Carolina Panthers Pro Bowl linebacker Luke Kuechly shocked the league earlier this year with his decision to retire from NFL at the age of 28. However, it appears that Kuechly isn’t ready to walk away from football completely.
In a recent chat with NBC Sports’ Mike Tirico, Kuechly tried to shed some light on his decision to retire saying that it had nothing to do with changes in the Panthers’ organization.
“I just think I knew in my heart that I gave everything I had and, at this point, it was time to move in a different direction,” said Kuechly.
According to Kuechly, he still misses the game greatly and is hoping he will find a way to” stay involved in football.”
“You have to make hard decisions in your life, I think this is one of the harder ones I’ve had to make,” he added. “Hopefully I can find a way to stay involved in football somehow.”
Luke Kuechly entered the league in 2012 when Carolina Panthers’ drafted him eighth overall. Kuechly immediately made an impact in his rookie season, getting league-leading 164 tackles, and went on to establish himself as one of the best linebackers in the game.
Over the course of eight years, Kuechly earned seven Pro Bowl nods, made First-team All-Pro five times, and won an NFL Defensive Player of the year award in 2012. His career stats include 1,092 tackles, 12.5 sacks, 18 interceptions, 67 pass deflections, seven forced fumbles, nine fumble recoveries, and two defensive touchdowns.
