Banned Essendon player Tayte Pears has chosen to pursue a career as a firefighter rather than continue his AFL career with the Bombers.

The club announced on Thursday that the 26-year-old had retired after being placed on the order of merit for the Victorian Metropolitan Fire Brigade.

Pears’ decision leaves skipper Jobe Watson as the only player of the 12 currently serving doping bans yet to announce his intentions when his suspension ends.