Key Takeaways:
– All-Pro defensive tackle Fletcher Cox retires from NFL after a successful 12-year career with the Philadelphia Eagles.
– Cox credited with significant contributions to Eagles’ Super Bowl win in 2017 season.
– Eagles look forward to successors Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter to fill Cox’s position.
– Cox’s retirement follows that of All-Pro center Jason Kelce marking significant changes in the Eagles roaster.
Philadelphia Eagles’ All-pro defensive tackle Fletcher Cox has officially announced his retirement from pro football, one day after Brandon Graham, the longest-tenured player in the Eagles’ roster, signed a one-year extension to stay with the team. The retirement news comes as a significant transition for the Eagles franchise as they make notable changes to their defensive line-up for the upcoming season.
Cox’s Remarkable Career
Chosen as the No. 12 overall pick by the Eagles in the 2012 NFL Draft, Cox lived up to his potential, becoming one of the most decorated defenders in franchise history. Instrumental in the Eagles’ Super Bowl victory following the 2017 season, Cox said his final goodbye at the age of 33. He retires with an impressive record of 70 sacks, 519 total tackles, 88 tackles for loss, 173 quarterback hits, 16 forced fumbles, and 14 fumble recoveries. He achieved First-Team All-Pro in 2018 and received Second-Team All-Pro recognition three times while earning six Pro Bowl appearances.
Eagles Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie lauded Cox as a “dominant force on our defensive line”. Fitting tributes echoed through the franchise, highlighting his six Pro Bowl appearances, four All-Pro titles and a place on the 2010s All-Decade Team. Cox’s retirement leaves big shoes to fill in the Eagles’ defense line.
Cox’s Successors Ready to Take the Reins
Building up a replacement for Cox’s consistently high performance won’t be an easy task for the Eagles. The team is undertaking a substantial defensive reshuffle under the supervision of incoming coordinator Vic Fangio. Fortunately, the Eagles’ executive vice president/general manager Howie Roseman has planned for Cox’s departure, earmarking defensive tackles Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter as likely successors.
Both Davis and Carter are first-round picks from the last two drafts and have shown promising performance. Carter, who finished second in Defensive Rookie of The Year voting in 2023, recorded six sacks with 33 tackles during the 2023 campaign. Davis, entering his third season, has logged 63 total tackles with 2.5 sacks in his first 30 games.
Offseason of Transition for Eagles
The 2024 Eagles, facing a series of retirements, is set to look considerably different from the previous season’s team. Cox’s retirement follows that of All-Pro center Jason Kelce, marking the departure of two franchise stalwarts within a week. This period of adjustment is set to be a significant challenge for the team, including embattled head coach Nick Sirianni, who will be introducing a fresh coaching staff led by new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. Fangio, taking charge of the defense, inherits a team looking to rebound after a late-season collapse in the previous year.
These changes signify a new era for the Eagles as they move forward without a key piece of their defensive machinery. As the franchise prepares to embark on the new season, Cox’s legacy is one that will not be easily forgotten. The team’s success in the upcoming years will surely be attributed, in part, to the foundations laid by Cox.