How Fletcher Cox Left A Lasting Impact On Eagles Defensive Line
All fans of the Philadelphia Eagles remember Fletcher Cox clogging the line of scrimmage for 12 outstanding seasons in Midnight Green. However, they might not realize his lasting impact after retirement on the defensive tackles of a new era.
He joined Andrew DiCecco on Fanatic Birds Insider to talk about his career with the Eagles, the leadership skills of Nick Sirianni, and receiving the Colt Safety Impact Award to educate the public about gun violence.
Cox’s statements about mentorship during and after his NFL career were the most intriguing, however.
Fletcher Cox Mentors Young Defensive Tackles
Former Georgia defensive tackles Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis struggled down the stretch in Cox’s final NFL season in 2023.
Cox spoke on Fanatic Birds Insider about how Davis has shown better durability in his third NFL season in 2024. He summarized the advice he’s given to Philadelphia’s first-round pick from the 2022 NFL Draft.
“The more you take care of yourself, the more the game take(s) care of you as a professional. You learn to be a professional. You keep learning to be a professional. You teach the guys that’s coming in how to be a professional, and when you have problems and questions, you call guys that you know that’s been in the same position that you’ve been in.” -Fletcher Cox on 97.5 The Fanatic
There’s no doubt he cheered Davis for chasing down Jayden Daniels for a key sack in the NFC Championship Game.
Cox took the mentor role seriously after the Eagles selected another defensive tackle with their top draft pick in 2023. Tim McManus spoke in September 2023 on The Best Show Ever about Cox’s veteran influence on Jalen Carter.
“He really took Carter under his wing instantly. I think he sees it maybe as part of his legacy is to kind of pass that torch, and Carter credited Cox for, even during their down time, calling him every day (and) making sure he’s at the right weight, making sure he’s doing the right things. When you see Carter excel, it needs to be recognized that Cox is a part of that as well.” -Tim McManus
Cox also spent the final years of his career with defensive tackles Milton Williams and Moro Ojomo, who will likely play a more significant share of the snaps than Davis in Super Bowl LIX.
The franchise legend retired with six Pro Bowl selections and a Super Bowl ring on a resume that might land him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame someday.
He won’t be in the spotlight if the Eagles bring home their second Lombardi Trophy in Super Bowl LIX. However, teams don’t reach eight NFC Championship Games and four Super Bowls in under a quarter century without the lineage of star players passing down a standard of discipline, professionalism, and work ethic.
Players like Fletcher Cox have excelled past their contributions on the field during a prolonged run of success through multiple eras during the ownership of Jeffrey Lurie.
