Dan Morgan, the Pro Bowl linebacker whose seven-year career has been plagued by injuries, has decided to retire.

Morgan played his entire career with the Panthers, but he signed a free-agent contract with the Saints on March 11.  The Saints made the official announcement today.

“When we signed Dan, he was committed to making a fresh start, and he was making every effort to rehabilitate the leg injury that he suffered last year,” said Coach Sean Payton. “But it wasn’t responding as well as he had hoped it would. We wish him well in his continued recovery, and he will be remembered for the excellent player he was during his career.”

Morgan played just four games in the last two years because of injuries. He suffered a partial tear of an Achilles tendon in 2007, and he had several concussions.

The Panthers made Morgan the 11th pick in the 2001 NFL draft, and he entered the starting lineup immediately, played well when he was healthy and was chosen to the Pro Bowl following the 2004 season. For his career, he played in 59 regular-season games and missed 53.