Source: Damien Woody to officially retire Friday

Damien Woody is officially ready to move onto the next phase of his life.

As reported by Newsday last week, the veteran right tackle has decided to retire, and plans on making it public tomorrow, according to a source. Woody is expected to have a formal press conference to announce his decision at the Jets’ training complex following the team’s morning walkthrough.

Woody, 33, has been hired by ESPN to be a NFL analyst and begins his new career later this month.

Released in February as a salary-cap casualty as he recovered from Achilles surgery, the Jets were hopeful of bringing Woody back. The team’s top brass put a full-court press on the 12-year veteran last Tuesday -- the day after the lockout was lifted – to see if they could coax him out of possible retirement.

However, phone conversations with Rex Ryan, general manager Mike Tannenbaum and owner Woody Johnson weren’t enough to convince Woody to play one more season. A two-time Super Bowl champ, he's hanging the cleats up for good.