Fletcher Cox, a six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle with the Philadelphia Eagles, announced Sunday that he is retiring from the NFL.
He follows in the footsteps of longtime Eagles center Jason Kelce, who announced his retirement earlier this week.
“I fulfilled a lifelong dream by playing in the NFL, but what I didn't know at the time was what an honor and privilege it would be to represent the city of Philadelphia and the Eagles organization for the next 12 seasons.” ” Cox wrote in a statement posted to Instagram on Sunday.
In a statement, Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, general manager Howie Roseman, current coach Nick Sirianni, former coach Doug Pederson, team president Don Smolenski, Brandon Graham, Kelce and Lane・He expressed his gratitude to several of his teammates, including Johnson, and to the team's fans.
“I gave everything I had to this team and this city. I don't know what I'll do next, but I do know that I'll be forever grateful for the time I spent here in Philadelphia and as an Eagles organization. ,” he wrote.
Cox, 33, continued to be one of the Eagles' top performers in 2023, recording five sacks, 17 quarterback hits and 36 quarterback pressures in 15 games.
Cox is one of the best defensive players in Eagles history. He holds franchise records for sacks (70) and Pro Bowl appearances (6) by a defensive tackle, trailing only Reggie White, Trent Cole, Clyde Simmons and Graham for career sacks. .
“What was really special about Fletcher was that his influence extended even further behind the scenes. A six-time team captain, Fletcher was instrumental in establishing a championship culture in our building. He was a man. He was mean on the field, but he was a master of the game.'' Lurie honed his craft over the years, serving as a big brother and mentor to many young players. '', he said in a statement. “He had a tremendous amount of respect for the game of football and the legacy he would one day leave behind, and that was reflected in the way he set the standard every day, on the practice field and in the locker room. Because of his leadership and the respect he earned from everyone in the building, the Standard will endure for many years.
“We are deeply grateful for all he has given to our organization and the city of Philadelphia over the years, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
Cox, who was drafted 12th overall in the 2012 draft out of Mississippi State University, has played his entire career in Philadelphia. He played in 188 total regular season games, second most among Eagles defensive players behind Graham (195).
He led the Eagles to their only Super Bowl win during the 2017 season, then had his best season as a pro in 2018 with 10.5 sacks and 34 quarterback hits en route to first-team All-Pro honors. Ta.
ESPN's Tim McManus contributed to this report.
