The Eagles’ core four has been reduced to a core two.
Defensive tackle Fletcher Cox announced Sunday that he and longtime teammate Jason Kelce are retiring.
Kelce (193 games) and Cox (188 games) rank second and third in Eagles history, trailed only by Brandon Graham (195 games), who just re-signed a one-year deal. . Final season.
These three players, along with Lane Johnson, were all drafted between 2010 and 2013 and played together for 11 seasons, providing the foundation for much of the success the Eagles built on their dominance on both sides of the line of scrimmage.
Johnson (143 games) would be high on the games played list, but he has battled injuries throughout his All-Pro career.
“Joining the NFL fulfilled a lifelong dream,” Cox, a 2012 first-round draft pick, wrote in a statement shared on social media. And I am honored to represent the city of Philadelphia and the Eagles organization for the next 12 seasons. ”
Cox is a former first-team All-Pro, six-time Pro Bowler, and a member of the 2010s Hall of Fame All-Decade Team.
He finished with 70 career sacks, including five last season.
In a long list of farewells of gratitude, Cox summed up Graham, Kelsey and Johnson, saying: “You will always have a special place in my heart.”
Last season, the Eagles were briefly Super Bowl favorites, but the season ended in a fiasco, marking the end of an era that Kelce and Cox didn’t deserve.
“To all Eagles fans around the world – there is no more passionate fan base in all sports than you,” Cox wrote. “You’re passionate and demanding. But that’s because of how much you care. After spending my career here, I wouldn’t have wanted any other path. …I… I gave everything I had to this team and this city.”
