PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — The Eagles will look vastly different in 2024, after the recent retirement of some long-time veteran stars. Center Jason Kelce officially announced his retirement last month. And shortly thereafter, defensive tackle Fletcher Cox said he’d be calling it a career. The legend finally said goodbye Tuesday afternoon.
“This decision was not — it was not easy. And I knew at some point in my career it was time for me to retire from [the] NFL,” he said.
Cox spent 12 seasons anchoring the Philadelphia Eagles’ defensive line as one of the greatest defensive tackles in franchise and NFL history.
“It comes with a lot of emotions,” he continued. “This game, mentally and physically, can take a toll on you. And I've enjoyed it at the highest level. … I feel like that I gave this game all I could give, and the game has given to me back. I've reached — I've been part of the highs, I've been part of the lows in this league, and I've enjoyed it all.”
Cox was a first-round pick of the Eagles in 2012 out of Mississippi State, and he would go on to play 188 games in the NFL — all with the Birds.
“To the city of Philadelphia it's been important that, you know, we’ve all seen this day coming and I always knew this day would come with me. And you know, the city of Philly is tough to play for and playing in Philly, you gotta have thick skin, especially being drafted in the first round. So to the city of Philadelphia, I thank you a whole lot.”
Cox finishes his career with 70 sacks. He was named All Pro four times and earned six Pro Bowl berths. He played in two Super Bowls and won one.
He says he thinks that’s a resume that’ll get him into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“I gotta get in the Eagles Hall of Fame first, so that might help me. But obviously, yeah, that's something I think about. Apparently, it's all in everybody else's hands right now. But, you know, hopefully, one day, a few years from now, [I’ll be] putting on a gold jacket — and I'll be looking forward to it.”