Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox announced on Sunday via his personal Instagram account that he has retired from professional football.
Fletcher Cox Announces Retirement
After saying goodbye to one of the franchise’s all-time greats in Jason Kelce, the Eagles are seeing another legend walk out the door.
Another #Eagles legend walks away: Fletcher Cox has announced his retirement. pic.twitter.com/myZpHahi2y
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) March 10, 2024
A 2012 first-round draft pick, Cox spent his entire 12-year career in Philadelphia. The 33-year-old was one of the standout defensive tackles of his era, earning six Pro Bowl nods and a spot on the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade Team.
The Mississippi State product finished his career with 519 total tackles, 70 sacks, 16 forced fumbles, 14 fumble recoveries, and three touchdowns over 188 regular-season contests. He ends his career with one Super Bowl ring and two NFC titles.
In 2023 he recorded 5 sacks, 17 quarterback hits, and 36 quarterback pressures in 15 games.
Cox is one of the most accomplished defensive players in Eagles history. He holds the franchise record for sacks (70) and Pro Bowl appearances (six) by a defensive tackle, and trails only Reggie White, Trent Cole, Clyde Simmons, and Brandon Graham in career sacks.
He helped lead the Eagles to their only Super Bowl championship during the 2017 season and followed that up with his best season as a pro, racking up 10.5 sacks and 34 QB hits in 2018 en route to first-team All-Pro honors.
His statement on Instagram includes a focus on the day he was drafted along with shoutouts to Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, general manager Howie Roseman, and former coaches. He also wrote a message to his mom along with a paragraph dedicated to teammates Kelce, Lane Johnson, and Graham.
“April 26, 2012 was a special day that changed my life forever when Andy Reid called me to say I would be drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles,” Cox wrote. “I fulfilled a lifelong dream by making it to the NFL, but what I didn’t know at the time was how much of an honor and privilege it would be to represent the City of Philadelphia and the Eagles organization for the next 12 seasons.
“… After much reflection, I have made the decision to retire from the game of football. I gave everything I had to this team and to this city. I don’t know what’s next for me, but I do know that I’m forever grateful for my time here in Philadelphia and with the Eagles organization.”
At locker cleanout day in January, Cox claimed he hadn’t yet made a decision but cleaned out his locker stall at the NovaCare Complex completely.
“You just see where the chips fall,” Cox said in January. “Obviously, they drafted some young talent, and those guys are really good. They’ve came a long way since they got here. Jordan [Davis] and Jalen [Carter], they did a really, really good job of taking it upon themselves to learn the game and learn to be a pro.”
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It has been a tough past few months for the Eagles as they fell apart late last season, watched the Dallas Cowboys win the NFC East title, and then got blown out in a Wild Card playoff game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Now in the offseason, two of the greatest players in the team’s history retired.
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