HOUSTON -- Veteran offensive lineman Bruce Matthews officially will end his NFL career after 19 seasons Monday at a news conference in the offices of Tennessee Titans' owner Bud Adams in Texas.

	Matthews

The Houston Chronicle reported the retirement Friday night, but the Titans would not comment on the report. Team spokesman Robbie Bohren confirmed the Titans have scheduled a news conference for Monday.

The announcement has been expected since the end of last season, but the man who had played more NFL games (296) than anyone except kickers had kept his options open just in case he wanted to return.

Matthews, who will turn 41 on Aug. 8, never missed a game due to injury in his career. Deciding to quit wasn't easy, but he told the Chronicle he will devote himself to being a husband and father to his five sons and one daughter.

``During this offseason, I wavered a number of times. Going back and forth so much was starting to take a toll,'' Matthews said.

``At times, I felt like I could have played another season, but at other times, I felt like it was time to hang it up. Once I decided what to do, it was an easy decision.''

Matthews only missed games in 1983 and 1987 due to contract disputes. He played every position on the line, and last year he tied Merlin Olsen for most Pro Bowls in NFL history with 14, including nine at guard and five at center.

Only he and guard Randall McDaniel, who also retired this year, appeared in every game in the 1990s.

Matthews spent the first 14 years of his career with the Houston Oilers, who drafted him with the ninth pick overall in 1983. He reluctantly moved with the team to Tennessee and played in the only Super Bowl of his career in January 2000, when the Titans lost to the St. Louis Rams 23-16.

He was opposed to the Oilers' relocation from Houston, but spent five seasons in Tennessee while keeping his offseason home in Texas.

``Even though I didn't want the team to move, it turned out to be a blessing,'' Matthews said. ``In Nashville, every Titans game is such an event. The fans are so enthusiastic. Now that Houston's got the Texans and Reliant Stadium, I think it's worked out well for both cities.''

Matthews' decision means he will remain tied with his brother, Clay Matthews Jr., with 19 seasons in the NFL. His brother played 278 games at linebacker for Cleveland and Atlanta from 1978-96, and their father, Clay Sr., was a defensive lineman for the San Francisco 49ers in the 1950s.

``God blessed my brother and I with bodies that could take a pounding. When I was young, I wanted to be like my older brother,'' he said.

``My whole life, I've copied those closest to me -- first Clay and then Munch (Mike Munchak) when I came to the Oilers. I attached myself to them. Not only were they great players, but they were great people, too.''

The Titans had given the man who played more seasons and games than anyone in franchise history plenty of time to make his decision. Training camp doesn't open until July 24.

The team is expected to retire Matthews' No. 74 sometime this season.

Matthews didn't attend any practices this offseason, while the Titans moved Gennaro DiNapoli into his place at center. They also signed Jeff Smith as a potential replacement.