Reports out of Detroit and Chicago relay that Chris Chelios is officially retiring.

Upon his retirement, the 48-year old defenseman will be joining the Detroit Red Wings front office staff.

Red Wings GM Ken Holland told the Detriot Free Press that he has had this idea in his mind for over a year.

"I don't have a title for him, but he's going to do a little player development. After '09 when I told him we weren't going to re-sign him, I told him to keep in touch. He called me in May and told me he was going to take me up on my offer."

Chelios, in Chicago to catch a Cubs game, said, "It looks like I'm going to stay in Detroit and take a job with the Red Wings."

He sang "Take Me Out To the Ball Game" during the seventh-inning stretch at the Cubs game which he dedicated the to Bob Probert.

Chelios played 26 seasons in the NHL, a record he shares with another former-Red Wing, Gordie Howe. He stands fourth all-time in NHL games played. Chelios is the second oldest player to play in the NHL, trailing none other than Gordie Howe.  

He was taken in the second round of the 1981 NHL entry draft by the Montreal Canadiens and won the Stanley Cup three times, with Montreal in 1986 and with Detroit in 2002 and 2008.

Among his individual accomplishments the future Hall of Famer was an 11 time All-Star, and a three-time Norris Trophy winner.

In 1996, Chelios was a member of the US team that won the World Cup of Hockey. He is also a four-time Olympian for the US, captaining the team in 2006.

Chelios retires with 1651 games played, 948 points, 2891 penalty minutes and a career +/- rating of +350.