One of the most dominant players in NFL history called it a career on Tuesday.
Legendary offensive tackle Jason Peters announced his retirement after 21 years in the NFL, 11 with the Eagles. He ended his career on the Seattle Seahawks' practice squad in 2024 and last played in an NFL game with Seattle the previous season.
"Man, great, great player. That trade that we made, I was the personnel director at the time, the guy is just a freak of all freaks. They called him 'The Franchise' for a reason," Executive Vice President/General Manager Howie Roseman said from the NFL Scouting Combine on Tuesday upon hearing the news. "You felt every Sunday going into a game that you had no worries no matter who the pass rusher was. Elite athlete. Elite teammate. World Champion. In my mind, no doubt first-ballot Hall of Famer. Just incredible career. One of the many players that I don't think I'd be standing up here if it wasn't for the success of guys like that. Just really thankful for Jason Peters."
The Eagles made the blockbuster trade to acquire Peters from the Buffalo Bills in 2009 to continue to provide a cornerstone player at left tackle following the departure of Tra Thomas.
Philadelphia parted ways with a first-round pick, a fourth-round pick, and a sixth-round pick, while also extending Peters, a rising star in Buffalo, with a lucrative contract.
The deal was a massive win for the Eagles.
Peters anchored the left tackle position for the next decade, earning seven Pro Bowl selections – second in franchise history only to Hall of Fame linebacker Chuck Bednarik. He was a four-time All-Pro selection in Philadelphia and a member of the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2010s, an important distinction when it comes to selecting who eventually resides in Canton. After missing the 2012 season due to an Achilles tear, Peters returned as a first-team All-Pro in 2013, finishing second in the Comeback Player of the Year vote.
"He's just a rare kind of guy and we should all appreciate that Jason Peters is maybe a once-in-a-generation talent," Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach Jeff Stoutland previously said of Peters. "I consider myself blessed to have been in position to coach Jason. Every day, he amazes me."
Peters was beloved by his teammates. After Peters suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 2017 season, Lane Johnson ran out of the tunnel in Super Bowl LII holding Peters' jersey to honor him. It was Peters who held up the Lombardi Trophy upon entering the postgame party on that magical night seven years ago. Peters rarely did media, but was a valued mentor to the younger players on the team.
"Playing with him for one year and being around him and seeing how he treats his craft has been so beneficial," offensive tackle Jordan Mailata, who has continued to tradition of quality left tackle play in Philadelphia, earning All-Pro honors this past Super Bowl season, previously said of Peters. "He takes a lot of time to help me. He knows I came here without any football background and that I was starting from the ground floor. I've come a long way. I'm a lot more comfortable about the game of football. Jason has had a big hand in my development."
And to think that one of the greatest offensive lineman in modern NFL history started his career as an undrafted tight end out of Arkansas.
