Fletcher Cox Retirement Speculation Gets Major Update

The Philadelphia Eagles could see a changing of the guard on both the offensive and defensive sides of the ball this offseason. The Eagles are still waiting to see if future Hall of Fame center Jason Kelce will hang up the cleats. 

However, Kelce isn’t the only Eagles player contemplating his playing future in the NFL. On Sunday, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that veteran defensive tackle Fletcher Cox will retire at some point this offseason.

Coincidentally, this isn’t the first time we heard rumors about Cox potentially hanging up the cleats. Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer mentioned on 97.5 The Fanatic in January that Cox is probably leaning towards retirement despite not saying anything.

If Cox retires this offseason, he will go out playing good football. The 33-year-old had a tremendous 2023 campaign, where he outplayed second-year defensive tackle Jordan Davis. Cox recorded 33 combined tackles, 17 quarterback hits, five sacks, and three tackles for loss.

Cox will become an unrestricted free agent later this month, but it would be weird to see him wearing any other uniform outside the Eagles’ midnight green. 

The former first-round pick has had a stellar 11-year career with the Eagles as he was a six-time Pro Bowler, a first-team All-Pro in 2018, a Super Bowl champion, and named to the Pro Football Hall of Fame All-2010s team.

The former Mississippi State defensive lineman has started 182 games in his NFL career while posting 70 sacks and 88 tackles for loss. Without Cox, Philadelphia’s defense will be leaning heavily on the young core of Milton Williams, Jordan Davis, and Jalen Carter to hold down the defensive tackle position.

More Eagles and analysis: