Eric LeGrand lived his NFL dream and has now retired as a Tampa Bay Buccaneer. (Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

One of the most inspirational sports stories in recent years, Eric LeGrand always wanted to be part of an NFL team.

And after signing with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in May, he can now claim to be a “Buc for life.”

LeGrand announced his retirement on the team’s official website Thursday morning, the first day of training camp.

“Making it to the NFL was my dream. But now I want to see my team as strong as possible at the start of Training Camp,” he said. “I’m a Buc for life.”

In the past month, LeGrand has delivered two speeches that have gathered national attention. He gave an emotional talk to Buccaneers at team workouts in June, then stole the show at July’s ESPY Awards when he was given the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance.

He sustained a spinal cord injury in 2010 as a junior defensive tackle for Rutgers that left him paralyzed from the neck down. His former college head coach Greg Schiano is now the head coach of Tampa Bay.

Stephen Belichick, son of New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick, brought Eric Legrand as his guest to the Super Bowl this weekend, reports Asbury Park Press.

Legrand, a former Rutgers defensive lineman who was paralyzed from the neck down due to a devastating injury received during a game in October 2010, has been an inspiration to many within the sports community.  When Belichick found out that he wanted to attend the game, Patriots coach Bill Belichick did everything he could to find a few extra tickets.

“I talked to Steve right after (the Patriots) won the (AFC Divisional) playoff game against the Broncos and he told me anything I need or want, just let him know,” LeGrand told the paper. “So after they won the (AFC) Championship Game, we talked and he was able to get me two tickets. I thanked him so much. It was so cool of him and his dad to do that.”

Stephen Belichick, who spent this season contributing for the Rutgers football team after playing the previous four years with Scarlet Knights lacrosse squad, considers himself fortunate to have known LeGrand throughout the past year.