Updated 11/6/2013 at 12:04 p.m. ET

Washington (CNN) - Former star pro-football player Jon Runyan, a two-term Republican congressman from New Jersey, will not run for re-election next year.

 In a statement released Wednesday morning Runyan said "politics shouldn't be a career and I never intended to make it one. While it has truly been an honor to serve the people of New Jersey's 3rd Congressional District, at this stage in my life, and more importantly, the lives of my three children, spending time with them is my top priority. As I serve out the rest of my term, I will continue to work hard on behalf of the people of South Jersey."

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