Fletcher Cox retired from the NFL after 12 seasons // USA TODAY Sports
Philadelphia Eagles great Fletcher Cox has yet to have a concrete answer on why things spiraled out of control last season.
For the first 11 weeks of last season, the Eagles fought off the Super Bowl loser's curse — they lost 38-35 to the Kansas City Chiefs in Super Bowl LVII — as they started with an NFL-best 11-1 record. However, things went south quickly after they were blown out at home, 42-19, by the San Francisco 49ers in an NFC Championship rematch. The Eagles would go on to lose six of their final seven games, including a humbling loss in the playoff opener against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 32-9.
In what has been a consistent answer from top Eagles players of last season, Cox doesn't have one answer when it pertains to Philadelphia's downfall, but he has a theory.
"There is no answer," says Cox in a one-on-one interview with RG.org. "We came off the bye week, we went on the road against some really good teams and things kind of went south after that. We had some guys banged up, we played a really good Buffalo team where we went down to the wire. I think the biggest thing is we ran out of time to make things right. Especially with guys going down, you try to get the guys playing at the level that the starters were playing at."
Cox retired after last season, ending a 12-year career that included numerous accolades, including six Pro Bowls and four All-Pro selections. Fellow Eagles great Jason Kelce also retired after 13 seasons with the franchise, which included six All-Pro and seven Pro Bowl selections.
It almost felt as if the Eagles were trying too hard to find answers to their struggles, including replacing defensive coordinator Sean DeSai with Matt Patricia with play-calling duties. That switch was made after Philadelphia had lost two consecutive games to the Niners and Dallas Cowboys, allowing an average margin of 37.5 points per game.
However, the switch in play-calling didn't help matters as the Eagles allowed 27.8 points per game in their final five games, four of which were losses. That's more than the 25.2 points per game they allowed on the season.
Cox reiterates that the Eagles "ran out of time" to make things right and expresses regret over how the season ended.
"I think we ran out of time to get things right and it sucks, when you start off as a really good team — one of the best teams in the NFL — and to end the way we ended, it was obviously unacceptable for the city, unacceptable for me as a player," says Cox passionately. "I ask myself sometimes, "What could I have done better? What did I do wrong?" But at the end of the day, I think we ran out of time."
Although the 2023 Eagles ended the season on a sour note after a hot start last season, this year's version has a chance to make things right. Although the 2024 squad will be without two longtime leaders in Cox and Kelce, they'll return essentially their entire core from last season, including star quarterback Jalen Hurts, receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, and longtime franchise pieces Lane Johnson and Brandon Graham.
"I think they'll be a really good team," predicts Cox. "They have a lot of good guys, some key pieces. And I think the sky's gonna be the limit. The key is going to be about staying healthy. The team is bonding together as one. I think that you have to figure out what your identity is. You kind of figure that out in those first four or five games, who you're going to be heading into December, January. I'm looking forward to checking the guys out — not that I watch a lot of football — but I'm excited to check the guys out."
The former team captain — he served in the role for six seasons, including during their Super Bowl-winning season in 2017 — singles out two young players, center Cam Jurgens and safety Reed Blankenship, as two guys he believes will step up following his and Kelce's retirements.
Cox is speaking on behalf of his partnership with Bud Light. Cox will hand out Bud Light bottles to fans at the team's home opener on Sep. 16 on Monday Night Football when the Eagles face off against the Atlanta Falcons. The partnership highlights Bud Light releasing 52 limited-edition commemorative "Philly Philly" bottles in reference to the famous play from their Super Bowl 52 victory featuring Nick Foles catching a touchdown pass. Fans 21+ can comment #PhillyPhillySweeps on Bud Light's social media channels for a chance to win a limited edition bottle. The announcement coincides with Foles' recent retirement, who was named Super Bowl 52 MVP.
Although Cox hasn't talked to Foles since his retirement, he'll reconnect with his former teammate next month during the Eagles' season opener.
"No, I haven't seen him," says Cox. "I'll see him. I've been kind of busy myself. I know his phone's probably blowing up. He's probably got 1000 text messages or more and I kind of want him to chill down a little bit and then I'll reach out to him and congratulate him. We're forever teammates. I'm looking forward to seeing him, hanging out with him and sharing that moment. Obviously we'll go back to Philly at the same time and celebrate with our teammates."
Cox — who is adamant that he will not come out of retirement and is enjoying life without football — isn't sure what his post-career plans are, but he makes it clear he's enjoying life without a rigid football schedule.
"As somebody from Mississippi, I'm just really enjoying my ranch in North Texas," says Cox. "Just enjoying life right now. Just living a little bit, something I haven't done since college. I haven't had this time since college. I'm really enjoying it. And kind of just taking it easy right now and making sure that my mind is clear on whatever I want to do next."
DJ Siddiqi is a sports reporter who focuses on football, basketball and pro wrestling. He has covered some of the biggest sporting events, including the NBA Finals and Wrestlemania and often interviews high-profile athletes on a weekly basis. Siddiqi has interviewed the likes of Dan Marino, Emmitt Smith, Shaquille O'Neal, Tony Hawk and Giannis Antetokounmpo. His previous experience includes working as a lead NBA writer at CBS Sports and 247 Sports in addition to working as a beat reporter covering the NFL and the Denver Broncos at Bleacher Report. Follow Siddiqi for exclusive one-on-one interviews and analysis on key topics in sports
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