The Eagles lost one of their stalwarts on the offensive line when Jason Kelce retired early in the 2024 NFL offseason. Now, they are losing one of their top defensive linemen for the same reason. Fletcher Cox announced Sunday that he was calling it quits after 12 NFL seasons.
“I gave everything I had to this team and this city,” Cox wrote in an Instagram post. “I don’t know what’s next for me, but I do know that I’m forever grateful for time here in Philadelphia and with the Eagles organization.”
Cox spent his entire career with the Eagles after being a first-round pick out of Mississippi State in the 2012 NFL Draft and thrived as a do-it-all defensive lineman. He was a six-time Pro Bowler and earned an All-Pro nod in 2018 when he produced a career-high 10.5 sacks.
Cox also won a ring with the Eagles when they beat the Patriots in Super Bowl 52. He posted 11 tackles and a sack across three games during that postseason.
Here’s what to know about Cox’s career as he officially retires from the NFL.
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Fletcher Cox stats
Cox was a consistently productive defensive tackle during his time with the Eagles. He played in 188 career games and never played fewer than 14 contests in a single season. He finished his career with exactly 70 sacks and had 519 total tackles for his career.
Below is a look at Cox’s year-by-year stats with the Eagles.
| Year | Games | Tackles | TFL | Sacks | Forced fumbles |
| 2012 | 15 | 39 | 8 | 5.5 | 1 |
| 2013 | 16 | 41 | 4 | 3.0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 16 | 61 | 8 | 4.0 | 1 |
| 2015 | 16 | 71 | 11 | 9.5 | 3 |
| 2016 | 16 | 43 | 9 | 6.5 | 1 |
| 2017 | 14 | 26 | 5 | 5.5 | 1 |
| 2018 | 16 | 46 | 12 | 10.5 | 1 |
| 2019 | 16 | 40 | 5 | 3.5 | 3 |
| 2020 | 15 | 41 | 9 | 6.5 | 1 |
| 2021 | 16 | 35 | 7 | 3.5 | 2 |
| 2022 | 17 | 43 | 7 | 7.0 | 1 |
| 2023 | 15 | 33 | 3 | 5.0 | 1 |
Cox saw his role diminish slightly over the final few years of his NFL career, but he was still a threatening three-down lineman, even in his latter years. It won’t be easy for the Eagles to replace his impact, both on the field and in the locker room.
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Fletcher Cox retirement announcement highlights
Cox shouted out many in his retirement announcement, including several members of the Eagles organization. Here are some of the highlights from his touching message.
Fletcher Cox thanks Jason Kelce, Brandon Graham, and Lane Johnson
Cox was the Eagles’ third-longest tenured player last season behind only Brandon Graham and Jason Kelce. He shouted them out, along with his decade-long teammate Lane Johnson, in his retirement message.
“You guys will always have a special place in my heart,” he wrote of the trio.
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Fletcher Cox thanks other Eagles teammates, coaches
Cox also shouted out a few more former Eagles. One was Trent Cole, whom Cox thanked for mentoring him during his rookie season.
“I’m so thankful for you taking me under your wing in my first year,” Fox wrote. “I can only hope I was able to have the same kind of impact on others that you had on me.”
He also shouted out Vinnie Curry, his fellow 2012 draftee who became one of his best friends during their time together in Philadelphia.
“We were roommates as rookies and next-door neighbors as veterans,” he wrote. “You are more than a best friend to me: you are a big brother.”
Cox capped that section of his retirement message by thanking the rest of his teammates from his 12-year NFL career.
“To all my other teammates and coaches — I will forever cherish the brotherhood,” he wrote. “We created memories that will last a lifetime.”
Fletcher Cox retirement announcement
Below is a full look at Cox’s retirement announcement, which he posted to his Instagram account Sunday.
