Vince Wilfork, left, hugs Patriots owner Robert Kraft, during a news conference at Gillette Stadium om Wednesday. Wilfork announced his retirement from NFL football. Wilfork signed a contract during the news conference to make him a Patriots life member.
Patriots Coach Bill Belichick, left, hugs former Patriots' Vince Wilfork.
In this Feb. 1, 2015, photo New England Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork celebrates after Malcolm Butler intercepted Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson during the second half of the Super Bowl. Wilfork won two Super Bowls with the Patriots.
Patriots owner Robert Kraft and Vince Wilfork had a special relationship.
Vince Wilfork was an enigma as a football player, a 6-foot-2, 325-pound – probably more – mountain of a man who was athletic and nimble.
Vince Wilfork is congratulated by Matthew Slater after recovering a fumble in the end zone in a 2011 game against Washington. It was the only TD of his career.
Vince Wilfork terrorized quarterbacks as Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger finds out in a 2001 games.
Vince Wilfork had 16 career sacks, including this one on Miami's Chad Henne in a 2011 game.
Vince Wilfork says, “I always wanted to be great. And you can’t be great without taking chances."
Coach Bill Belichick says Vince Wilfork was “the best defensive lineman I’ve ever coached.”
Vince Wilfork has a chat with an official during a 2009 game.
Patriots Coach Bill Belichick praised Vince Wilfork as a player, leader, on the field, off the field and in practice
Vince Wilfork played his last two seasons with the Houston Texans after the Patriots made him a free agent after the 2014 season.
Vince Wilfork was drafted by the Patriots in the first round in 2004 and spent 11 seasons with the team.
Vince Wilfork was all business on the field. He ended his career with three interceptions, very impressive for a nose tackle.
Vince Wilfork spent the first 11 years of his career with the Patriots. “My resume wouldn’t have been what it was without New England. For the majority of my career, this was home," he said.
Vince Wilfork, who played the final two years of his career with Houston, says he said he is retiring because he can no longer mentally prepare for rigors of the NFL.
New England Patriots 
