CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA - DECEMBER 29: Luke Kuechly #59 of the Carolina Panthers before their game against the New Orleans Saints at Bank of America Stadium on December 29, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. And what is going on with Tua’s health? Granted, you can make an argument for guard Marshal Yanda, and I’ve heard a couple of Hall-of-Fame selectors voice support for … Next up is linebacker Luke Kuechly. Kuechly recorded at least 100 tackles in each year of his career, becoming just the fifth player in NFL history to have eight consecutive 100-tackle seasons. All-Pro selections matter.
59 was a whirling dervish, a Tasmanian devil who lived in opponent’s backfields, and routinely sniffed out plays with his killer instincts. But the Panthers' star has endured a run of concussions, head trauma and shoulder injuries that no doubt played a role in his unexpected exit.“In my heart,” he said in a video released by the Panthers, “I know it’s the right thing to do.”Kuechly becomes the latest NFL star to retire at an early age, joining Rob Gronkowski, Andrew Luck, Calvin Johnson and Patrick Willis as high-profile players who left the NFL before their 31st birthdays.The question now, of course, is: Did he do enough in his eight years of play to reach the Pro Football Hall of Fame? And while the money, prestige and everything that comes with being a bonafide football So if you’re wondering why players seem to be holding out more than ever before, if you’re wondering why players are trying to negotiate their own deals and cut agents out of the process so they can save on fees, if you’re wondering why players are retiring so quickly … well, that’s why. If we triple Kuechly’s numbers (assuming he plays that many games) he is on pace to get 2454 total tackles, 31.5 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, 21 fumbles recovered, and 45 interceptions. And while we still get great players who do it forever — legends like Peyton Manning and Ray Lewis and Tom Brady — my hunch is that we’ll see fewer graying players as this newest generation sees the wisdom of collecting their honors, stacking their money and getting out while the getting is good.We all should be grateful for this evolution.
Reblog. Because we are only focusing on current Panthers players, that means that Luke Kuechly hails from Cincinnati, OH and played his college football at Boston College. During that time, the former first-round pick had more tackles than anyone in the league, and has more interceptions than any other linebacker. Comparing those hypothetical numbers to what Lewis accomplished, Luke’s resume is better by far in tackles and interceptions and on par in both fumble categories. In a case like, say, Frank Gore, longevity will be used as a plus. (Photo by … Right after the Carolina Panthers stirred up some excitement with the hiring of offensive coordinator Joe Brady, the mood was brought down as one of the modern greats called it a career. NFL Rumors focuses on intrigue around Tom Brady’s future with the Patriots, the Giants search for an OC and interviewing of Jason Garrett and the 2020 NFL Draft.Joe Burrow appears to be a lock to go #1 overall, but will the Bengals be the team that takes him. Seven Pro Bowls.Kuechly’s retirement is also the continuation of a trend. Because when taken as a collective accumulation, they reflect the impact a player has had on the game, number of years be damned.I’d like to think that all this has long been the kind of loose criteria the many HOF voters before me have used, criteria that should go beyond just years played. Defensive Player of the Year (2013).