WATCH AGAIN: Rob Ninkovich Day Parade, Rally Honor L-W Central Alum (VIDEO)

NEW LENOX, IL — Now that he has retired from the NFL, former New England Patriots linebacker and Lincoln-Way Central High School alum Rob Ninkovich is considering the next phase of life. After 11 seasons of pro football, he definitely wants to relax, spend time with his family, give back to the community and even tailgate at games, something he's never had the opportunity to do as a player. But what about entering local politics?

"Does Mayor Ninkovich sound pretty good? ... There's a few things that need to be cleaned up around here," Ninkovich jokingly said to the hundreds of fans and residents who turned out for a rally in his honor that was part of Rob Ninkovich Day on Sunday in New Lenox.

The good-natured ribbing didn't stop Mayor Tim Balderman from presenting the former footballer with a special recognition award from the village. Balderman also presented Ninkovich with a key to the city that "opens absolutely nothing other than the hearts and minds of the people of New Lenox." It was the second time in Balderman's more-than-a-decade as mayor that he has presented someone with a key to the city, and he asked Ninkovich if he would consider a swap. (Get Patch real-time email alerts for the latest news for New Lenox. And iPhone users: Check out Patch's new app.)

"I'll trade you [the key] for the ring," Balderman kidded, referring to one of the two massive Super Bowl rings Ninkovich was wearing. He won both playing for the New England Patriots.

WATCH: Recently retired New England Patriots linebacker and Lincoln-Way Central High School alum Rob Ninkovich answers questions Sunday alongside Mayor Tim Baldermann at New Lenox Village Hall.

Follow the parade and rally for Rob Ninkovich Day in New Lenox:

Ninkovich and Balderman were speakers at Sunday's Rob Ninkovich Day rally, and they were joined by Rob Glielmi, who was Ninkovich's coach at L-W Central, and L-W Central Principal Scott Provis, who also coached Ninkovich in high school. A parade before the rally included Lincoln-Way Central's marching band and drum line, as well as the cheerleading and football squads for the New Lenox Mustangs and New Lenox Youth Association and members of the football team from Lincoln-Way's three high schools.

Ninkovich's family moved to New Lenox from Blue Island when he was in the seventh grade, and the future NFL linebacker played high school football at Lincoln-Way East for two seasons before transferring to Lincoln-Way Central, where he graduated and closed out his prep career in 2002.

More Patch Coverage Of Rob Ninkovich:

• Rob Ninkovich Day: Everything You Need To Know
• Rob Ninkovich Day Planned In New Lenox
• Ninkovich Retires From Pro Football

During a brief press conference before the event, Ninkovich credited his time at L-W Central with creating his desire to play football, even if the experience intimidated him at first.

"I can remember playing my freshman season and really thinking people were getting hit way too hard. … I don't like this. This is too violent for me," he said.

But his coaches mentored him, and Ninkovich learned the game. And he learned to love it, as well. He also built relationships with the other players and coaches.

"You think you have time, but time goes really fast ... We all know it goes quick and you really have to take advantage of the time and embrace the memories," Ninkovich said of his high school days.

After high school, Ninkovich played two seasons at Joliet Junior College, winning a NJCAA national championship before finishing his collegiate career as a defensive lineman at Purdue University. New Orleans drafted him in the fifth round of the 2006 NFL draft, and he played a season with the Saints and two seasons with the Miami Dolphins before moving on to the Patriots.

In July, Ninkovich announced his retirement after 11 seasons in the NFL. It came months after the Patriots won Super Bowl LI in a dramatic, second-half comeback. With New England, he played in three Super Bowls, winning two with the team.

"I could go play football right now, but it's probably the best choice in the long term for my knees and joints to move on," Ninkovich said of his retirement.

When it came to his decision to call it quits, Ninkovich says he weighed what he would gain from staying another season in the NFL against the toll that would take on his body and the time that would keep him away from his wife and his two kids.

"Sunday I retired. Monday I went to practice, and man, I don't know how I did that for so long. I was, like, how did I get through this? It takes a lot out of you," he said. "For me, it was, like, what am I going to get out of 12 [seasons] that I didn't get in 11? … Do I want to be able to ski in 10 years, or do I want to be hobbling around?"

While he was joking about a possible foray into local politics now that he's retired from football, Ninkovich was serious about helping kids "maximize their abilities" in an effort to pursue their dreams, whether those pursuits are in sports, business or other areas.

"If you have a dream go after it with all you've got," he said during the rally. "And if you come up short, you'll be better for that. ... People say don't put all your eggs in one basket. I don't believe that."

It might be unlikely that residents will see Ninkovich behind the desk in the New Lenox mayor's office, but fans might be able to catch a glimpse of him at football tailgates. As a player, he was never able to attend those pregame festivities, no matter how enticing they were.

"I've always been driving through the tailgaters and smelling the good smells and watching them enj0y it. That looks like fun. Maybe I'll try that one day," he said.

Patch Editor Tim Moran contributed to this article.

Photos:

Lincoln-Way Central High School alum Rob Ninkovich speaks as Mayor Tim Balderman looks on Sunday during Rob Ninkovich Day in New Lenox.

Ninkovich and Baldermann embrace each other at the podium after a rally and parade for the recently retired New England Patriots linebacker.

Ninkovich greets young football players before a rally honoring him in his home town Sunday morning.

Ninkovich walks through New Lenox Village Hall with Baldermann, who came decked out in a No. 50 New England Patriots jersey to welcome home the Lincoln-Way Central grad after his retirement form the NFL

Photos by Joe Vince

Like What You're Reading? Stay Patched In!

• Like our Crime page on Facebook
• Check out the Events Calendar for what’s going on