It’s possible that the Eagles will lose two icons this offseason.
It’s possible that two of the Philadelphia Eagles’ most cherished and seasoned veterans will retire this summer.
According to reports from ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler, defensive tackle Fletcher Cox will “probably” retire this offseason, following in the footsteps of center Jason Kelce, who is also reportedly retiring.
Eagles center Jason Kelce announced his retirement to teammates last month, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter. Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox is also expected to retire this offseason, according to several individuals I’ve spoken to. Retirements are difficult since plans might change as players come out of the season’s fog, but it’s possible that the Eagles will replace two icons at once.
Both Cox and Kelce hanging up their boots at the same time would be devastating, but it would necessitate a significant change in the Eagles’ offensive and defensive line-ups.
Since the Eagles selected Cox with the 12th overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, Cox has played for them throughout his entire NFL career. With over 500 tackles and 70 sacks in his career, Cox has missed very few games in his 12 seasons as a player.
The Eagles selected Kelce, a player on the opposing side of the ball, in the sixth round of the 2011 NBA Draft. As a rookie, he rose to the position of starting center and has been just as tenacious throughout his career, earning him a spot in the Hall of Fame.
When the Eagles defeated the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LII in 2017, Cox and Kelce each took home their lone Super Bowl championship.
