For the second time in six days, the Eagles are losing one of their cornerstones to retirement. Longtime Eagles defensive lineman Fletcher Cox has announced his decision to hang up his cleats after twelve NFL seasons in the city of ‘Brotherly Love’, Philadelphia. On Monday, March 4, center Jason Kelce tearfully announced his retirement from the organization.
The 12th overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft out of Mississippi State University, Cox was one of the NFL’s elite defensive linemen during the decade of the 2010s. He earned six consecutive trips to the Pro Bowl from 2015-20 and was an All-Pro selection in 2018. Cox’s workmen-like presence helped the Eagles capture the franchise’s first Super Bowl win at the end of the 2017 season. That victory was against the dynastic New England Patriots, 41-33.
Embed from Getty Images“I gave everything I had to this team and to this city,” Cox wrote in a statement on social media. “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.”
In his statement, he thanked Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie, general manager Howie Roseman, current coach Nick Sirianni and former coach Doug Pederson and team president Don Smolenski, several teammates, including Brandon Graham, Kelce and Lane Johnson, and the team’s fans.
Cox ranks fifth all time in franchise history in career sacks (70), sixth in forced fumbles (16), 13th in fumble recoveries (14),15th in solo tackles (341) and is tied for first in fumble returns for touchdowns (three). He is a lock to go to Canton.
Cox was an ironman and as durable as they come, taking the field in exactly 200 games for the Eagles. He made 182 regular-season starts and an additional 12 starts in the playoffs. Along with starting in Philadelphia’s win over the Patriots in Super Bowl LII, Cox started in the Eagles’ 38-35 loss to Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII.
Cox registered five sacks, one forced and one recovered fumble in 15 games this past season. He had a half-sack in the Eagles postseason loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 32-9, in what proved to be his swan song.
“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 wrote in a statement posted to social media on Sunday.
In other Eagles’ news, while Cox is riding off into the sunset, fellow Eagles defensive stalwart Graham is coming back for one more year. Graham signed a one-year deal with the Eagles on Saturday for what he said will be his farewell season.
