Fletcher Cox is calling it a career, making him the latest longtime Philadelphia Eagles star to retire this offseason.
The disruptive defensive tackle spent his entire 12-season NFL career with the Eagles and served as an anchor on the 2017 team that won the first Super Bowl in franchise history.
“I gave everything I had to this team and to this city,” Cox, 33, said in his announcement Sunday. “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.”
Originally a 2012 first-round pick out of Mississippi State, Cox recorded 70 sacks, 351 tackles and 16 forced fumbles over 188 games. He was a six-time Pro Bowl selection who received first-team All-Pro honors in 2018 after registering a career-high 10.5 sacks.
Cox had two quarterback hits in the Eagles’ 41-33 victory over Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII.
“I’ll never forget the feeling of running out of the tunnel at Lincoln Financial Field, or the roar of the crowd after making a big play,” Cox said Sunday. “One of the proudest moments of my life was holding up that Lombardi Trophy at the Rocky steps while looking out into the sea of fans. It was breathtaking to realize what we were able to accomplish and how much it meant to so many.”
Cox tallied 5.0 sacks in 15 games, all starts, last season.
His retirement comes less than a week after center Jason Kelce announced his retirement during a tearful news conference Monday. Kelce, a six-time first-team All-Pro selection, spent each of his 13 NFL seasons with the Eagles.
Defensive end Brandon Graham, meanwhile, reached a one-year extension last week to return to the Eagles for a team-record 15th season. He is expected to retire after the 2024 campaign.
