B.J. Raji said he is stepping away from football and that he will not play for at least the 2016 NFL season.

Raji released a statement Monday, referring to his decision as "a hiatus" and saying that he "cannot rule out a return to the NFL in the future."

"I have played football and been defined as a football player for as long as I can remember," Raji said in the statement. "This off-season was the first time that I felt myself pulled in another direction and I am excited to first be 'all in' with my family back home and then to explore new frontiers. I am not exactly sure what the next phase of life will entail, but I am confident that all of the lessons I learned during my NFL journey will provide a solid foundation for success."