Eagles DT Fletcher Cox announces retirement after 12 seasons

Philadelphia is witnessing another Eagles legend calling it a career in 2024.

Fletcher Cox, a six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle and Super Bowl LII champion, announced his retirement on social media Sunday after 12 seasons in the NFL, all of which were spent in Philadelphia.

“After much reflection, I have made the decision to retire from the game of football,” Cox said in a statement. “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 news of Cox’s retirement comes just days after longtime center Jason Kelce officially announced he was stepping away for good.

Cox was selected by the Eagles with the No. 12 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft and played a key role in getting the franchise its first-ever Lombardi Trophy in 2017. Cox finishes fifth on the Eagles’ all-time sack list with 70.0, and ranks fourth in the NFL in sacks among DTs since entering the league in 2012, behind only Aaron Donald (111.0), Cameron Heyward (79.5) and Chris Jones (75.5), according to NFL Research.

The 33-year-old ends his 12-season career with 70.0 sacks, 519 tackles, 173 quarterback hits, eight tackles for a loss, 16 forced fumbles and 14 fumbles recoveries, three of which ended with him celebrating in the end zone. He was named to the NFL’s 2010s All-Decade team.

“Beyond his statistical accolades, any opposing coach would tell you their game-planning could not start until they deal with No. 91,” Eagles Chairmen and CEO Jeffrey Lurie said in a statement. “Whether he was wreaking havoc in the backfield or taking on double teams to set up others for success, Fletcher thrived in every style of defense he played during his career. He was an incredibly tough and durable player who put his body on the line week in and week out for his teammates. You could always rely on him to set the tone on game day, whether it was a chilling inspirational speech or a big play in a key moment.”

Although the 2023 season ended far too soon for the Eagles, falling short to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Super Wild Card Round, Cox put his all into his final season with 33 tackles, five sacks, 17 QB hits, three tackles for a loss, one forced fumble and one fumble recovered.

Cox will be remembered as one of the great Eagles defenders of the franchise’s rich history, but entering 2024, Philadelphia will need to adjust to life without another prominent figure in the trenches.