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Veteran Eagles defensive tackle Fletcher Cox announced his retirement from the NFL on Sunday afternoon after 12 seasons in the league and all with the Eagles.
Cox, 33, was a first-round pick out of Mississippi State and ended up being one of the best players in franchise history.
At locker cleaning day in January, Cox said he hadn’t made a decision yet, but he completely cleaned out his locker at the NovaCare Complex.
“You just see where things fall,” Cox said in January. “Obviously, they recruited some young talent and those guys are really good. They have come a long way since they came here. “Jordan (Davis) and Jalen (Carter), they did a very, very good job of taking the responsibility of learning the game and learning how to be professionals.”
In his 12-year career, Cox played in 188 games with 182 starts and finished with 70 sacks, 88 tackles for loss, 16 forced fumbles, 14 fumble recoveries and over 500 combined tackles. He was also an integral part of two Super Bowl teams and played a huge role in the Super Bowl LII victory to cap the 2017 season.
Cox was named a Pro Bowler for six consecutive seasons from 2015 to 2020 and was a first-team All-Pro in 2018. He was also named a second-team All-Pro three times and was named an NFL All-Pro. -Team of the decade for the 2010s.
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie issued a lengthy statement regarding Cox’s retirement:
“From the time he was selected with the 12th pick in 2012 until his last game, Fletcher Cox was a dominant force on our defensive line. A six-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro and a member of the Fletcher All-America team. 2010s, is an all-time Eagle great whose contributions made him one of the most recognized defensive tackles of a generation and made him a strong case for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
“Throughout his 12-year career, Fletcher finished with the most sacks and games played by a defensive tackle in franchise history and was the centerpiece of a defense that helped deliver the first Super Bowl championship. to the city of Philadelphia. Beyond his statistical accolades, any opposing coach would say that their game planning couldn’t begin until they figured out how to deal with the number 91. Whether he was wreaking havoc in the backfield or facing 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 score. the tone on match days, whether it was a chilling inspirational speech or a great play at a key moment.
“What made Fletcher truly special is that his influence extends even further behind the scenes. The six-time team captain was a key figure in establishing a championship culture in our building. As unpleasant as he was on the field , was a master of his craft while also serving as an older brother and mentor to so many young players over the years. He had enormous respect for the game of football and the legacy he would one day leave behind, and that was reflected in the way in that He set the standard every day, whether on the practice field or in the locker room, and that standard will endure for many years to come because of his leadership and the respect he earned from everyone in the building.
“We are incredibly grateful for everything he gave to our organization and the city of Philadelphia over the years, and we wish him all the best in his future.”
The only players in franchise history with more Pro Bowls than Cox’s six as a member of the Eagles are Chuck Bednarik (8), Brian Dawkins (7), Jason Peters (7), Reggie White (7) and Jason Kelce (7).
And Cox ranks fifth on the Eagles’ all-time sacks list with 70, which is also the most of any defensive tackle. He trails only Reggie White (124), Trent Cole (85 1/2), Clyde Simmons (76) and Brandon Graham (73).
His 188 career regular season games are the second-most ever by an Eagles defensive player, behind teammate Graham, who played in 195. During his career, Cox was incredibly durable. The Eagles relied on him week in and week out.
In the 2010s, Cox was one of only two players in the league with 45+ sacks and 10+ forced fumbles. The other is three-time Defensive Player of the Year Aaron Donald.
The biggest hint that Cox was thinking about retiring this offseason came from an excited Davis on cleanup day.
“I knew this was going to happen, but I didn’t know it was going to be this way,” Davis said. “When you see a boy grow up, he is like your hero. I had the opportunity to work with him every day. Very lucky. And we have to watch him walk away. Of course, he walked away on his own terms. Better than many people can say.
“But seeing him walk away hurts. Pica. And it hurts more because I couldn’t send it the right way. We don’t send him riding off into the sunset, it’s like we crash and burn. And he has to get out, he has to get out limping, he has to get out crawling.”
Like Kelce earlier this offseason, Cox is stepping away from the game after playing well in 2023. Despite turning 33 during his final NFL season, Cox still started 15 games and had 5 sacks, 17 QB hits, 3 TFL and 33 combined tackles.
Cox also finished his career as a team captain for six consecutive seasons and really grew into his leadership role late in his career, helping replace former safety Malcolm Jenkins after he left following the 2019 season.
While Cox has spent his entire adult life as a soccer player, he has interests outside of the sport. He loves cars and bought a drag racing team that competes all over the country. And he owns a 1,500-acre ranch called “Shady Trell Ranch” in Jacksboro, Texas.
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