Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly is retiring from the NFL after eight seasons.
The 28-year-old Kuechly made the surprising announcement Tuesday night in a video posted on the team's website. He said, "I think now is the right chance to move on."
Kuechly was selected to seven Pro Bowls and was a first-team All-Pro five times. However, he suffered three concussions during his career.
"It makes me sad because I love playing this game," Kuechly said. "I've played it since I was a kid. It's my favorite thing to do in the world. The memories I have from this place and this organization and being on the field with these guys, they will never go away. There's only one way to play this game since I was a little kid — play fast, play physical and play strong. At this point, I don't know if I am able to do that anymore."
Kuechly finishes his career with 1,092 tackles, which is the most by any player since coming into the league in 2012 out of Boston College.
Panthers lure LSU's Brady
The Carolina Panthers have hired LSU's Joe Brady as the team's offensive coordinator, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
After spending the last year as LSU's passing game coordinator/wide receivers coach, Brady takes over the job at 30 years old, 37 years younger than Norv Turner, the team's previous offensive coordinator.
Brady helped revolutionize LSU's offense this past year with quarterback Joe Burrow. The Tigers led FBS in completion percentage (75.1%), total offense (568.5 yards per game) and points per game (48.4) and was second in first downs (418) and passing yards per game (401.6).
