The NFL has seen many great players retire at a young age.
Playing in the NFL is difficult as it takes a major toll on every player’s body.
One of the top players of the last decade that retired too soon was Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly.
Kuechly retired after the 2019 season at the age of 28.
He was coming off a season where he was second-team All-Pro.
So it was a surprise to all of the NFL at that time.
According to NFL Legacy, Kuechly turned 32 years old today.
🗣 LUUUUUUKE
HBD to the great @LukeKuechly! pic.twitter.com/kb6djOmxv4
— NFL Legacy (@NFLLegacy) April 20, 2023
The Panthers miss Kuechly’s presence on their team.
They have not been the same since he retired, and are still looking to find their defensive leader.
Despite only playing eight years, Kuechly has to be in Hall of Fame contention.
He made seven Pro Bowl teams and was first-team All-Pro five times.
It will be interesting to see if Kuechly ever returns to the NFL as a coach.
He was always an incredibly intelligent player, and we have seen defensive players turn into great coaches.
Both DeMeco Ryans and Mike Vrabel are head coaches in the NFL and were very good linebackers.
Ultimately, Kuechly put his long-term health over playing football.
Many players probably battle with the same decision, as we heard with Tua Tagovailoa this offseason.
After two concussions last year, Tua talked about retirement with his family.
But, he decided to continue playing.
Kuechly suffered a few concussions as well during his career, which ultimately led to his early retirement.
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