It was 2020 when NFL linebacker Luke Kuechly retired from professional soccer. What happened to make him walk away? Details are forward.
The Gist:
- Luke Kuechly played for the Carolina Panthers for eight years.
- In 2020, he retired from professional football in an emotional social media video.
- The reason behind his tricky decision was totally out of his control.
An eight-year veteran of the Carolina Panthers, linebacker Luke Kuechly retired from professional soccer at the young age of 28. The tough decision used to be "the right thing to do," according the the NFL alum, in spite of his transparent heartbreak. So what used to be behind his emotional selection? Details are forward.
Julio Jones #Eleven of the Atlanta Falcons pushes off Luke Kuechly #59 of the Carolina Panthers throughout the 2nd half of the game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Dec. 8, 2019, in Atlanta
Why did Luke Kuechly decide to retire if he loves the sport of soccer greater than anything?
In 2020, linebacker for the Carolina Panthers Luke Kuechly introduced in an emotional Twitter video that he was saying goodbye to his football career, in spite of his fairly young age.
"It's a tough decision, I've thought about it a lot," the longtime athlete shared, occurring to tearfully say he is aware of it's the proper time to move on, regardless of feeling "sad" about leaving the NFL behind.
It seems that Luke, who stated in the video that football is "his favorite thing to do," had suffered several devastating injuries over the process his skilled occupation, together with concussions in 2016 and 2017, consistent with ABC News.
The injuries left him sidelined, and anxious for his well being.
"There's only one way to play this game since I was a little kid — play fast, play physical and play strong,'' Luke said during the difficult announcement of his retirement. "At this point, I do not know if I am able to do this anymore.''
Luke went on to express that he was hoping to nonetheless be involved with football by hook or by crook.
What does Luke Kuechly do lately years after his retirement from skilled soccer?
Following his retirement from the NFL because of repeated concussions — at least three that have been documented — Luke used to be in a position to stay ties to his cherished recreation and the connections he made while enjoying.
According to The New York Times, he spent a season as a scout for the Panthers, and today, Luke coaches youth football along his former teammate Greg Olsen.
He also advocates on behalf of traumatic brain injury consciousness.
Gregg Olsen and Luke Kuechly watch the Panthers play against the Buffalo Bills throughout the second quarter of a preseason recreation at Bank of America Stadium on Aug. 26, 2022 in Charlotte, N.C.
He told the outlet in his 2023 interview that in recent times, the NFL "has done a really good job of trying to keep the players safe on the field and give them the opportunity to be safe in their return to play as well."
Still, he stated, "I think everybody in the NFL understands that it’s a violent game. It’s physical, it’s tough. There’s big strong guys running around, and getting hurt is kind of inevitable."
Meanwhile, the former linebacker stated about his own long-term health following years of injuries, "I’m not worried about it, but I’m very aware of it."
His advice to the oldsters of younger football avid gamers like the ones he coaches? "Hey, you do what you think is best for your child. You’re their parent. You ultimately know what’s best for them."
Still, total, Luke thinks the positives outweigh the negatives of taking part in football. His love for the game is obvious.
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