NFL wide receiver Jordy Nelson made the surprising decision to retire after the 2018 season at the age of 34. Nelson, in his single season with the Oakland Raiders, amassed over 700 receiving yards, and it didn't appear the former Green Bay Packers wideout was slowing down.

Nelson, who spent nine seasons in Green Bay in 2008-17, leading the league in receiving touchdowns once in 2016, revealed more about his stunning decision to step away the Packers and join the Raiders to “Wilde & Tausch” on ESPN Radio:

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“I don’t know how serious they got, just because there’s only so much control that we had over it. There’s other people in the organization who make those decisions.” Nelson said. “So I wasn’t going to dive into a hardcore conversation unless I knew there was a chance to come back. I think (Rodgers) knew deep down that if there was an opportunity right after Oakland, I probably would have [returned]. But obviously it’s not up to us.”

“I definitely think I could have helped them,” Nelson said. “I don’t know what kind of player I’d be if I sat here and said, ‘No, I wouldn’t have been able to help them.’ I think the track record between Aaron and I, I think we could have been productive no matter what year it would have been.

“I think we proved it over the time, year-in and year-out. We were both very productive, and until proven otherwise I would say yes, I would have been able to (help).”

Nelson, 35, stepped away from the Packers organization after nine years—Green Bay selected the Kansas State product in the second round, too—signing with the Raiders before his retirement. A one-time Pro-Bowl selection and Super Bowl champion with the Packers in 2010, Nelson was also the NFL's Comeback Player of the Year in 2016 and top target for future Hall of Fame quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

Nelson, however, ended up closing his solid NFL career in Oakland on a team that wound up finishing 4-12—far from the persistence playoff contention that the Packers present practically ever year.