While players’ loyalty to a single team is increasingly becoming rare in the NFL, Fletcher Cox has achieved a remarkable feat by dedicating his entire career to the Philadelphia Eagles. The defensive tackle held the third-longest tenure with the Eagles last season, trailing only Brandon Graham and Jason Kelce.
As Eagles fans continue to hold Cox in high regard, the defensive tackle himself has made it clear that the 2023 season was his final campaign on the NFL gridiron as a player.
Fletcher Cox officially announces NFL retirement
Fletcher Cox bid farewell to the gridiron after an illustrious 12-year career with the team, announcing his retirement via Instagram on Sunday. His heartfelt message expressed gratitude for the opportunity to represent both the city of Philadelphia and the Eagles organization.
“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. Go Birds!”
The 33-year-old continued stating the honor he felt in donning the Eagles jersey for over a decade while acknowledging the profound impact the city and organization had on his career.
“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,” Cox continued in his post.
In his retirement announcement, Cox extended heartfelt thanks to his teammates, recognizing their contributions throughout his tenure in the league.
His decision to retire marks the end of an era for the Eagles, as he joins other iconic figures from the once-high-flying team in stepping away from the game. His announcement follows in the footsteps of Jason Kelce, who announced his retirement earlier in March, drawing inspiration from NBA icon Saquon O’Neal.
Does Fletcher Cox have a Super Bowl win?
Throughout his NFL career, Fletcher Cox had two Super Bowl appearances. With Cox as a key figure, the Eagles team won their historic Lombardi Trophy win in 2017. The Eagles again made a Super Bowl appearance in the 2022 season. Nevertheless, they lost the game against the Kansas City Chiefs.
The vet defensive lineman was selected as the No. 12 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. He then joined the Eagles under then-head coach Andy Reid and went on to become a cornerstone of the team.
As a six-time team captain, his leadership and on-field prowess were evident as he played 188 regular-season games with the Eagles, ranking him first among defensive tackles and tied for third among all players in franchise history. His legacy includes a remarkable fifth-place finish on the Eagles’ all-time sack list with 70.0.
He earned a spot on the NFL’s 2010 All-Decade team. In his final season with the Eagles, Cox demonstrated his enduring skill set, tallying 33 tackles, five sacks, 17 QB hits, three tackles for a loss, one forced fumble, and one fumble recovery.
Over the course of his outstanding tenure, Cox amassed an impressive 70 quarterback sacks and recovered three fumbles for touchdowns. The feat equaled him only with Seth Joyner in Eagles history.
His legacy as a relentless pass rusher, tenacious defender, and inspirational leader will be remembered fondly by Eagles fans for years to come.
