Mississippi State great Fletcher Cox announces NFL retirement
A legendary football career is coming to a close for Fletcher Cox.
After 12 incredible years in the NFL, Cox announced on Sunday morning that 2023 was his final run. It caps a career that saw Cox grab a Super Bowl championship, multiple All-Pro selections and a resume that will put him on the ballot for the NFL Hall of Fame in the coming years.
“April 26, 2012, was a special day that changed my life forever when Andy Reid called me to say I would be drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles,” Cox pinned in his lengthy Twitter statement. “I fulfilled a lifelong dream by making it to the NFL, but what I didn’t know at the time was how much of an honor and privilege it would be to represent the city of Philadelphia and the Eagles organization for the next 12 seasons.”
In 12 seasons, Cox was one of the NFL’s best defensive tackles. He racked up 519 career tackles, 88.0 tackles for loss, 70.0 sacks, 16 pass deflections, 16 forced fumbles and 14 fumble recoveries.
Cox made the Pro Bowl six times, earned four selections to the All-Pro team and made two trips to the Super Bowl with a world championship in 2018. He finished his career playing in 188 career games with starts in 182 of those including starting in each of the final 184 games.
The Yazoo City native was a four-star defensive end out of high school and picked Mississippi State over offers from most of the teams around the country and would put on for his home state with the Bulldogs.
Cox played in 36 games in three years with State and had 114 tackles with 24.5 TFL, 8.5 sacks, five blocks, two FF and two FR. His junior season was his best as Cox became an All-American after wrecking opposing offensive lines for 56 tackles, 14.5 TFL and 5.0 sacks.
His college production and a great NFL combine led to a first round pick as the Eagles took him 12th overall in 2012. He would set the stage for MSU to go on a run of great defensive linemen and is in a group with standouts Pernell McPhee, Chris Jones, Denico Autry, Montez Sweat and Preston Smith.
“Growing up in Yazoo City, there aren’t many athletes who have a chance to compete at a professional level, let along dream of becoming a world champion,” Cox said. “I’m proud to represent my hometown, the state of Mississippi and Mississippi State University, but Philly has been my home the last 12 years and will always hold a special place in my heart.”
