Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly announced his National Football League retirement on Wednesday. The retirement could have come as a surprise to many because Kuechly is only 28 years old. However in that time he participated in seven Pro Bowls, was the 2012 NFL defensive rookie of the year and the 2013 NFL defensive player of the year. The native of Cincinnati represented the Panthers at the 2016 Super Bowl and finished his career with 18 interceptions, seven forced fumbles, 690 tackles, 12.5 sacks, one safety and two touchdowns.
Here are the top five players in NFL history who retired under 30. Before you email us wondering where Barry Sanders and Jim Brown are on the list, remember Sanders retired at age 31 and Brown retired at age 30.
5) Robert Smith–A running back with the Minnesota Vikings from 1993-2000, Robert Smith was a two-time Pro Bowler. His last season in 2000, turned out to be his best. He ran for 1521 yards and seven touchdowns along with 348 yards receiving and three touchdowns. At the age of 28, Smith stunned the football world when he announced he was leaving the NFL as a player to pursue a career in medicine.
4) Gale Sayers–This four-time Pro Bowler was the running back for the Chicago Bears from 1965 to 1971. After he faced knee injuries near the end of his career, Sayers decided to retire during the 1972 preseason.
3) Rob Gronkowski–One of the best tight ends to ever play in the NFL, (number four on our list), New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski was only 29 years old when he announced his retirement on Instagram in March of 2019. A three-time Super Bowl champion and five-time Pro Bowler, Gronkowski’s 79 touchdowns are third all-time among tight ends.
2) Andrew Luck–In August, right before the 2019 National Football League regular season was about to commence, Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts shocked the NFL world with the announcement of his retirement at age 29. Luck quarterbacked Indianapolis from 2012 to 2018. He finished his career with 2000 completions in 3290 attempts for 171 touchdowns, 83 interceptions and 23 671 passing yards. A four-time Pro Bowler, Luck led the NFL with 40 touchdown passes in 2014.
1) Terrell Davis–At the age of 29, Terrell Davis retired from the Denver Broncos in the 2002 preseason. A running back of the Denver Broncos from 1995 to 2001 and three-time Pro Bowler, Davis was the Super Bowl MVP in 1998. For two consecutive seasons (1997 and 1998), Davis won the Super Bowl and led the NFL in rushing touchdowns. He also led the NFL in rushing yards with 2008 in 1998.
