Defensive tackle Gerald McCoy retires at age 35

According to Joe Morgan of FOX Sports on Friday, six-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy of Oklahoma City, Oklahoma has retired at the age of 35. McCoy played 11 National Football League seasons (nine with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2010 to 2018. one season with the Carolina Panthers in 2019, and one season with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021). In his prime, he was selected to six consecutive Pro Bowls from 2012 to 2017.

McCoy has not played since the 2021 NFL regular season. That year he played with the Raiders, but was injured in the opening game of the season with a knee injury, a 33-27 Raiders win over the Baltimore Ravens.

In 140 National Football League regular season games, McCoy has 334 combined tackles (235 solo tackles and 99 assisted tackles), 86 tackles for a loss, 153 quarterback hits, 59.5 sacks, 24 pass deflections, six forced fumbles, and four fumble recoveries for 12 yards. He retires having never played a postseason game.

McCoy was the third overall pick by the Buccaneers in the 2010 NFL Draft. He was selected only behind quarterback Sam Bradford of Oklahoma City, and defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh of Portland, Oregon. Bradford was drafted by the St. Louis Rams and Suh was drafted by the Detroit Lions.

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What was fascinating from the 2010 NFL Draft, is the fact that Bradford, McCoy, and tackle Trent Williams of Longview, Texas all attended the University of Oklahoma. Williams was selected fourth overall by Washington. In 2021, Washington made Williams the highest paid offensive lineman ever, when he signed a six-year deal worth $138.06 million.

Prior to playing professional football, McCoy was an elite multi-sport athlete. He also competed in the shot put.

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