The Panthers lost perhaps the best linebacker in the NFL when 28 year old Luke Kuechly announced his retirement on Tuesday. The move leaves the team’s linebacker corps in shambles, with veteran Shaq Thompson the only remaining player with at least a season of experience as a starter.
Although he was undeniably on pace to make the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Kuechly’s surprise retirement after only eight years in the league leaves open the question if he will be voted into Canton.
Throughout his 118 game career, the star accumulated a slew of accolades, earning seven Pro Bowl nominations, five All-Pros awards, as well as the 2012 Rookie of the Year award and the 2013 Defensive Player of the Year award.
Kuechly’s trophy case looks awfully similar to one of the all-time great linebackers’ who is already in the Hall.
During Brian Urlacher’s 182 game career, the Chicago Bear earned eight Pro Bowl nominations, four All-Pro awards, and was a recipient of the 2000 NFL Rookie of the Year award, as well as the 2005 Defensive Player of the Year award.
A deeper dive into their career numbers (thanks to Pro Football Reference) shows they share even more similarities.
Through 118 games, Kuechly posted 1,092 total tackles to go along with 75 tackles for a loss, 12.5 sacks, 19 interceptions, seven forced fumbles and two defensive touchdowns. In Urlacher’s first 118 games, he had 947 total tackles, 95 tackles for a loss, 35.5 sacks, 12 interceptions, eight forced fumbles and one defensive touchdown.
Although Urlacher holds the edge on sacks and tackles for a loss, it would take him 24 more games to reach Kuechly’s 1,092 tackles, and 39 more games to reach his 19 career interceptions.
This is not meant to compare Kuechly and Urlacher’s careers against each other, rather, to show that they are in the same unique company of modern linebackers deserving of Hall of Fame honors.
Urlacher was enshrined in 2012. It will be interesting to see whether Kuechly will be chosen when he is eligible in 2025.
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