Posted on 01/14/2020 7:59:00 PM PST by nickcarraway
Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly, fighting back tears in a video posted on social media, announced on Tuesday night his plans to retire from the NFL at age 28.
"There's only one way to play this game since I was a little kid -- play fast, play physical and play strong,'' Kuechly said. "And at this point I don't know if I am able to do that anymore. That's the part that is the most difficult.''
Kuechly paused to gather his emotions.
"I still want to play, but I don't think it's the right decision,'' he continued. "I thought about it for a long time. Now is an opportunity to step away with what's going on here.''
Kuechly didn't explain exactly why he can't play fast, physical and strong at this point in his career. What is known is that from 2015 to '17, the 2013 NFL Defensive Player of the Year missed seven games due to concussions.
NFL responds to Luke Kuechly's surprise retirement at age 28 He wore an experimental device named the "Q Collar'' around his neck the past three seasons; the inventor claimed it reduced the risk of concussions. Kuechly was last officially ruled out for a concussion after he was carted off the field in tears during a Thursday night game in 2017. He did miss time during training camp for an undisclosed injury, but he later insisted that wasn't a concussion.
Kuechly said his final farewell from his favorite place besides the field, the linebackers' room at Bank of America Stadium where he watched countless hours of film to be one of the best linebackers in the NFL.
"I think now is the right chance for me to move on," Kuechly said. "It makes me sad because I love playing this game, I've played it since I was a kid. It's my favorite thing in the world to do. The memories I have from this place and this organization and being on the field with these guys -- they'll never go away.''
Notable Early NFL Exits
Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly is the latest NFL player to join the list of surprising early retirements because of worries over football-related injuries.
AGE LAST SEASON
Luke Kuechly 28 2019
Rob Gronkowski 29 2018
Andrew Luck 29 2018
Doug Baldwin 30 2018
Chancellor 30 2017
Calvin Johnson 30 2015
Patrick Willis 30 2014
Jake Locker 26 2014
Chris Borland 24 2014
Former Carolina coach Ron Rivera, who selected Kuechly out of Boston College with the ninth pick of the 2012 draft, expressed to ESPN.com via text that it was good Kuechly gets to "go out on his own terms.''
"One of the really good, young men to play the game, and I am proud to be able to say I got to coach him,'' wrote Rivera, now the head coach of the Washington Redskins.
Rivera was fired with four games left in the regular season, and Baylor coach Matt Rhule recently was hired to replace him. Kuechly said his decision had nothing to do with the coaching change.
Owner David Tepper praised the "tremendous impact'' Kuechly has had on the organization.
"In my two seasons with Luke, I quickly recognized how special of a person he is,'' Tepper said in a statement. "The respect he gives and garners from others as well as the positive impact he has on his peers is second to none.
"It's obviously going to be very difficult for all of us because we know that no player can replace what he's been for this organization for the last eight years. His presence can't be replicated."
Tight end Greg Olsen was one of many teammates who expressed how they felt about Kuechly on Twitter.
Kuechly recently pulled out of the Pro Bowl, his seventh in eight NFL seasons. Nicknamed a "tackling machine'' at Boston College, he finished his NFL career with 1,092 tackles, the most by any player since 2012.
But what made Kuechly one of the best all-around linebackers in the league was his versatility. His 18 interceptions are the most by a linebacker in the league since 2012 and the third most in franchise history. His 75 tackles for loss are tied for fifth among linebackers during that span.
Two plays he'll be remembered for were interceptions returned for touchdowns in the playoffs against Seattle and Arizona en route to Super Bowl 50.
Whenever he made a tackle, fans in the stands shouted, "Luuuuuke.''
"While I wish we could have him for many more years, he has done everything the right way and we respect the decision that he's made,'' Tepper said. "Luke is a once-in-a-generation player and someone we want every member of this organization to emulate.''
You want to live to your fifties and sixties and still walk with then this is a wise decision. All that hitting takes a hard toll. Lord bless him in this decision. It’s probably best.
He made millions and his name carries star brand power... what does he need to play any longer for?
Good for him.
What a loss! Well the league pretends it cares about concussions but they are full of shiff. They’d rather protect thug,below average linemen than uber-talented QBs like Carson Wentz. That was an absolutely evil dispicable coverup of a clear cut attempt to deliver a concussion on live television. Not a peep!
This is the beginning of the trend in NFL. Players will not stay in the sport beyond 30.
I’m so glad Seattle lost. I was just as pissed as any Eagles fan about what happened to Wentz.
It’s a sad thing; he’ll probably have to live in a van by the river the rest of his life, scrounging for enough money to feed himself. No medical benefits—he probably won’t make it to 30.
There is truth in this.
This is also true. You can play for a few seasons and retire if you manage your earnings right. When it becomes work, it's less fun. Find something else to do in retirement.
Frankly it’s one of the reasons I’m happy Tebow didn’t play in the NFL too long. He got enough fame to do all of the positive things with it.
who wouldn't
Haven’t paid much attention to the NFL for a couple of years now. But FWIW, this is likely a wise decision. If I had kids of high school age, I don’t think I’d let them play football. Once upon a time my opinions were different and I initially treated the reports of serious health risks rather dismissively. Unfortunately the evidence has just been piling up and I am obliged to admit I was wrong. The game really is much more dangerous than most of us realized.
Matt Birk had the 4th highest Wunderlich score of any NFL player. The only QB higher than him was Ryan Fitzpatrick, who also went to Harvard.
Who do you think protects QBS, and allows them to make plays? I can't imagine what it looks like in your world where QBs do it all themselves.
Ask Andrew Luck, who had to retire early, because of the Colts refusing to spend money on lineman. Or David Carr, whose career was ruined by playing behind terrible lines. Don't kid yourself, if Tom Brady had been on those Houston teams, he never would have made it. Houston is on the border or repeating that with Deshaun Watson.
You don't even deserve to enjoy watching football, you are so ignorant about it. You should watch Basketball or som other sport since like showboating, not team play. Football is a team sport. Were you one of the Eagles fans who threw batteries at Santa Claus?
But, please, go tell Carson Wentz you think linemen are worthless thugs, and see what he says to you. You will not be pleased.
You’ve been Obamaized. Professional sports are more dangerous, because the players are bigger, faster, stronger. But Obama came out and trashed football at all levels and implied parents shouldn’t let their kids play it. I guess we need less kids to play American sports, and more kids to be inculcated in socialism.
I sure wish I had felt that way about any of the jobs I did in my career. I don't think I ever said that a single time. Gotta hand it to people to are in love with what they do for a living. Too bad it ends before age 30 for so many of them.
I suppose it’s better to have your health. But if you don’t have that, I also suppose millions of dollars would be suitable compensation.
Concussions, and the younger players can now see what happens to older players who’ve absorbed too many blows to the head. Smart move by Kuechly. I love watching the game, NFL and NCAA, but no one owes their health to entertain me.
Defensive linemen protect QBs? That’s crazy news to me. I guess you didn’t watch the cheap hit on Carson Wentz. You sound completely clueless.
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