A former All-Pro legend is set to retire after his team released him on Wednesday. The former draft pick had a successful career in the league before having to quit due to health issues.
The Green Bay Packers have developed awesome OL talent
The Packers had great success in the 2010s, developing offensive line talent from Day 3 in the draft. Left tackle David Bakhtiari earned five All-Pro nominations and three Pro Bowl appearances as a member of the Packers. He was drafted in the fourth round of the 2013 draft.
In the next draft, the Packers selected Corey Linsley in the fifth round. He earned two All-Pro nominations (2020 and 2021) and a Pro Bowl appearance for the 2021 season. He also made the 2014 PFWA All-Rookie team.
Linsley played with the Packers through the 2021 season. He signed with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2021. He was a three-time team captain for the Chargers.
Corey Linsley had a health issue pop up last season
Per the Chargers website in January, Linsley was placed on the reserve/non-football illness list because of a heart issue:
But the veteran center, who missed the final 14 games this season with a non-emergent heart-related medical issue, said [his retirement] is “99 percent” likely to happen.
“After my last appointment, I met with a specialist whose entire career is on this particular portion of the heart,” Linsley said. “His advice was to stop playing. 99 percent sure that’s what’s going to happen.”
The Chargers wish Linsley the best in retirement
Per a statement by the Chargers on Wednesday, the team congratulated Linsley for his successful career on the way out of Los Angeles after they released him:
Linsley, a three-year team captain for the Bolts, was the Chargers’ 2021 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year nominee for his work in the community, particularly with Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA). He was regarded as the best center in football when he joined Los Angeles in 2021, earning Pro Bowl recognition and second-team All-Pro honors from The Associated Press in his first season with the Bolts.
Linsley led the line that year to protect quarterback Justin Herbert to his first Pro Bowl selection along with setting single-season franchise records in completions (443), passing yards (5,014) and passing touchdowns (38).
Linsley started in all 99 games he played for the Packers and all 33 games he played for the Chargers.
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