Fletcher Cox, a 12-year veteran defensive tackle, announced his retirement on Instagram. Cox, a former first-round choice and six-time Pro Bowl selection, played his whole career with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Fletcher Cox, one of the #Eagles all-time greats, has announced his retirement. pic.twitter.com/3P5o4ti1tX
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet), March 10, 2024.
Fletcher Cox, one of the #Eagles all-time greats, announced his is retiring. pic.twitter.com/3P5o4ti1tX
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) March 10, 2024
Fletcher Cox Announces Retirement
Despite being on the wrong side of 30, Fletcher Cox enjoyed another good season on a one-year contract. The defensive lineman started and played in 15 games, finishing the season with five sacks, 33 tackles, three tackles for loss, and 17 quarterback hits. The Eagles had a strong start before cooling off and falling to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the first round of the playoffs.
Fletcher Cox enters the NFL as a first-round pick in the 2012 draft. The Mississippi State graduate, who was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles, finished his first season with 5.5 sacks, 39 tackles, eight tackles for loss, and ten quarterback hits. He played the next two years as Philadelphia’s starting interior lineman, with respectable but not outstanding numbers. However, he eventually realized his full potential during the 2015 season.
Fletcher Cox burst in his fourth year of the NFL, recording 9.5 sacks, 71 tackles, 11 tackles for loss, and 20 quarterback hits. This impressive performance earned him his first Pro Bowl nomination of his career, but it would not be the last. Cox established himself as one of the game’s best defensive tackles, making the Pro Bowl in six straight seasons.
His best season was most likely in 2018, when he was named to the First Team All-Pro. The former first-round choice appeared in all 16 games and concluded the season with 10.5 sacks, 46 tackles, 12 tackles for loss, and 34 quarterback hits. The Eagles went on another long playoff run, but were unable to capture consecutive Super Bowl championships.
Since signing his rookie contract, Fletcher Cox has appeared in 188 games, starting 182. On the field, the Mississippi State graduate has accumulated 70 sacks, 519 tackles, 88 tackles for loss, and 173 quarterback hits.
