Longtime Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle, Fletcher Cox, has announced his retirement from the NFL, bringing a close to a stellar 12-season career, all of which was spent with the Eagles. As a first-round pick in 2012, Cox carved his legacy into the franchise, holding its record for the most sacks (70) by a defensive tackle. He was prepped for free agency this week when he announced his decision to end his playing career in a Sunday social media post.

In his departure, he expressed his heartfelt gratitude towards the Eagles organization. “I want to thank Jeffrey Lurie, Howie Roseman, Doug Pederson, Nick Sirianni, Don Smolenski, and the entire support staff for the Philadelphia Eagles,” Cox wrote.

Six-time Pro Bowl NFL star, Fletcher Cox has had an impressive run with the Eagles, which is reflected in his seemingly insurmountable record and the respect he’s earned from his peers and team management. His contribution will indeed be missed on the field.