USA TODAY International Edition
Kuechly’s early NFL exit continues health trend
Luke Kuechly’s words rolled off his lips at a measured clip, and almost monotone.
“It’s never the right time to step away,” the seven- time Pro Bowl linebacker said early in the video message released for him by the Panthers late Tuesday. “But now is the right time for me.”
One of the NFL’s best inside linebackers – scratch that. One of the NFL’s best defensive players, period, is walking away from the game. At the age of 28. With two years and more than $ 20 million remaining on his contract.
The news brought with it initial surprise. But as Kuechly’s message to the world continued, it was evident how well thought out a decision he was making. As teammates and opponents alike flooded social media with expressions of respect and well wishes for the eightyear veteran, it was evident they got it.
Goodbyes are never easy, especially when they seem premature. But as Kuechly joins Rob Gronkowski and Andrew Luck to become the third elite- level player in the last year to retire before his 30th birthday, his decision featured a large degree of normalcy as well.
In this 100th season of the National Football League, the landscape continues to change.
Today’s NFL players are better educated on injury risks, more business savvy and financially secure, and less beholden to the game.
They still love pro football. That’s for sure, especially hearing Kuechly talk.
“It makes me sad because I’ve played this game since I was a little kid and it’s my favorite thing in the world to do,” he said, and at one point he did fight back tears.
But Kuechly, while valuing the privilege of playing his boyhood game at the highest level, values health and longterm quality of life even more.
At least three concussions and two shoulder surgeries since 2015 have taken their toll on his body and his mind. Despite coming off another 16- game, 100- plus- tackle season that saw him earn Pro Bowl and second- team All- Pro honors, the linebacker didn’t feel like he could continue to adequately devote himself to the sport.
“There’s only one way to play this game since I was a little kid – play fast, play physical and play strong,” he said. “And at this point I don’t know if I am able to do that anymore.”
So he’s walking away.
These days we talk about the player empowerment era because of the way NFL stars have begun carrying themselves as businessmen. Some hold out for contracts that offer greater financial security. In some cases, they force their ways out of bad situations and into more favorable and competitive working environments.
But decisions like those by Kuechly, Gronkowski and Luck also fall under the player empowerment umbrella.
Because of the massive contracts high- profile players now often receive, many of them are more financially secure. They can make more money in a shorter period of time than players from a generation ago could have. That gives today’s players the freedom to walk away from the game on their own terms; with their health – physically and mentally – intact instead of miserably hanging on and subjecting their bodies to punishment just for a paycheck.
This generation of NFL stars only needs the league but for so long. For decades, the game has mercilessly chewed up and spat out players – even the elites – once they were deemed inadequate. Those cruel dismissals often took the battered warriors by surprise.
Now, however, we’re seeing players wise up. They’re capitalizing on opportunities, maximizing earning potential, dabbling in investments, then they get out before they’re too broken in mind and body to enjoy the fruits of their labor.
Don’t be surprised if we see more of this.
Sure, we’ll have the likes of Tom Brady and Drew Brees, who continue playing past 40 because they can do so and still love the game. Guys like Frank Gore and Adrian Peterson will continue to lace ’ em up, chasing coveted records and hoping to simultaneously luck into a Super Bowl run in the twilights of their careers.
Plenty of other 30- plus- year- old Pro Bowl- caliber players will remain addicted to the competition, the adrenaline rush of the arena, the camaraderie of the locker rooms, and they will continue to play although they’ve fully secured enough wealth to pass down for generations.
But others will weigh the short- and long- term risks. They’ll consider the grueling demands of preparation, the pressures of performing at an elite level, the frustrations of ever- changing rules and maddeningly inconsistent officiating, and they’ll choose not to subject themselves to any of it any longer.
Those same players will pursue other interests and enjoy their families to the fullest.
The league has been trending this way for a while.
In 2014, 49ers linebacker Chris Borland retired after just one season – a campaign in which he earned all- rookie honors – because he didn’t want to subject himself to the long- term risks of concussions. That same offseason, seven- time Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis retired at 29. In the winter of 2016, perennial All- Pro wide receiver Calvin Johnson retired at 30.
Then came Gronk, Luck and now Kuechly.
The coming year could feature more than three early departures. Eventually, we’ll think nothing of it.
Because as was the case with Gronkowski and Luck, Kuechly received no words of criticism from within the football community. Teammates, opponents and coaches were all happy that their brother had the flexibility to make such a decision.
As the Kuechly retirement story broke, the words of advice uttered Sunday by Seattle running back Marshawn Lynch after possibly his last game ( following a three- game comeback from retirement to help the Seahawks attempt a run at the Super Bowl) rang more true.
“Take care of y’all mentals, y’all bodies, y’all chicken ( money), so when y’all ready to walk away, y’all walk away and you’ll be able to do what y’all want to do.”
That’s exactly what Kuechly did and is doing.