Longtime Eagles defenseman Fletcher Cox announced his retirement 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 has gone on to become one of the greatest players in franchise history.
Cox has not yet made a decision on January’s lockout date, but said he has cleared the locker room completely at the Novacare Complex.
“You’ll see where the chips fall,” Cox said in January. “Obviously, they’ve developed some young talent and those guys are great. They have come a long way since they got here. Jordan (Davis) and Jalen (Carter) have really done a great job of taking it upon themselves to learn the game and learn to be professional.
As a 12-year-old, Cox played in 188 games, 182 starts, and finished with 70 sacks, 88 tackles for loss, 16 forced fumbles, 14 fumble recoveries and over 500 combined tackles. He was an integral part of two Super Bowl teams and played a major role in the Super Bowl LII victory to clinch the 2017 season.
Cox was named a Pro Bowler for six consecutive seasons from 2015-2020 and was a first-team All-Pro in 2018. – Group of the decade for the 2010s.
Eagles owner Jeffrey Lurie released a lengthy statement on Cox’s retirement:
“Fletcher Cox has been a dominant force on our defensive line since being drafted with the 12th overall pick in 2012. A six-time Pro Bowler, four-time All-Pro and member of the
“During his 12-year career, Fletcher had the most sacks and games played by a defensive tackle in franchise history, and was the centerpiece of a defense that helped bring its first Super Bowl championship to the city of Philadelphia. Statistically, any opposing coach will tell you that their game plan can’t begin until they know how it plays out against No. 91.” In every defensive position he played in his career, he was an incredibly strong and resilient player, a player who put his body on the line week in and week out for his teammates. Whether it was on game days or in the game, you could always count on him to lend his voice. It was a game.
“What made Fletcher truly special was that his influence extended behind the scenes. The six-time team captain was a key figure in establishing a championship culture in our building. As badass as he was on the field, he had the ability to own it. Over the years, he served as a big brother and mentor to many young players in football. His game was highly respected and the legacy he will one day leave behind is reflected in his ways. He sets the standard every day on the practice field and in the locker room.
“We are incredibly grateful for all that he has given to our company and the city of Philadelphia over the years, and we wish him the best in his future endeavors.”
The only players in franchise history with more Pro Bowls than Cox 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 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 regular season games are the second most by an Eagles defensive player behind longtime teammate Graham’s 195. The Eagles relied on him week in and week out.
In the year In 2010, Cox was one of two players in the league with 45+ sacks and 10+ forced fumbles. Another three-time Defensive Player of the Year is Aaron Donald.
The biggest hint that Cox was considering retirement this season came from an emotional Davies on cleanup day.
“I knew it was coming, but I didn’t know it was going to come this way,” Davis said. “When you see a guy growing up, he’s like your hero. I had the opportunity to work with him every day. Very lucky. And we have to watch it go. Of course, he left on his own accord. Better than most people can say.
But it hurts to see him go. It’s annoying. And it hurts more because I can’t send him the right way. We didn’t send him riding off into the sunset, it was like we crashed and burned. And it has to climb, it jumps, it crawls.”
Like Kelce earlier this season, Cox is playing well in 2023 and walking away from the game. Despite turning 33 in his final NFL season, Cox still started 15 games and had 5 sacks, 17 QB hits, 3 TFLs and 33 combined tackles.
Cox completed his six-straight season as a team captain, helping former Malcolm Jenkins take over at safety following the 2019 season, and really grew into a leadership role late in his career.
Although Cox has spent his entire career as a footballer, he has interests outside of the sport. He has a passion for cars and buys a drag racing team that competes around the country. And he owns a 1,500 acre ranch called “Shady Trail Ranch” in Jacksboro, Texas.
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