Former University of Alabama football standout and NFL player Wallace Gilberry has withdrawn from the race for the Republican nomination in Alabama’s 2nd congressional district.

“After reflecting over Christmas and New Years, I have come to the decision that this race, at this time, is not the right place for me to help my community, so I will be stepping aside,” Gilberry said on X this morning. “But I am never going to quit on Alabama. Or on you.

“I will continue to serve our communities and be involved in any and every way I can to fight back against out-of-touch liberal politicians and too many bad policies that are hurting people and making life tougher every day.”

Gilberry had announced his candidacy in November.

Gilberry’s departure leaves seven Republicans running for the nomination in the redrawn district. Eleven Democratic candidates are running. The primary is March 5.

Gilberry, a Baldwin County native, played defensive end for Alabama from 2004 through 2007, earning All-SEC honors. He played nine seasons in the NFL, retiring after the 2017 season.

When AL.com last caught up with Gilberry, he was living in his childhood home in Bromley, in Baldwin County, in 2018.

He had a trucking company and a promotions outfit. The former Tide defense end also hosted an annual Easter egg hunt for local youngsters and was planning a flag-football league for Baldwin County children.