Baltimore Ravens running back Ricky Williams has decided to retire from the NFL after 11 seasons, he announced Tuesday.

"The NFL has been an amazing page in this chapter of my life," Williams said in a statement released by the University of Texas. "I pray that all successive adventures offer me the same potential for growth, success and most importantly fun. I want to thank all my fans, teammates, coaches and supporters for the strength they've given me to overcome so much."

Williams told WQAM in Miami on Tuesday that a text exchange with Bill Parcells, his former boss with the Miami Dolphins, prompted him to think about his future and ultimately led him to decide to retire.

According to the South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Parcells texted Williams to check up on him. Williams responded that he felt good and couldn't "wait till next year." Parcells' response to Williams' reply changed the running back's perspective, however.

"That's good. Don't chase this thing too long. You can contribute in other ways," Parcells wrote in his text, according to the newspaper.

Williams said Wednesday in an interview with ESPN Radio's "Mike and Mike in the Morning" that Parcells' text was "huge" in helping him to rethink his future.

"After I started to think about it I was very grateful to him for kind of releasing me, allowing me to let my mind expand to consider what else I could achieve."

Williams briefly retired once before, missing the 2004 season. He was facing a four-game suspension for violating the league's drug policy before he shockingly announced he was leaving the game. He returned in 2005, then left to spend the 2006 season with Toronto of the Canadian Football League.