Retiring Chris Long Sought Bigger Role Than Eagles Were Willing to Give Him

After mulling the decision throughout much of the offseason, Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Chris Long finally announced his retirement via Twitter Saturday night.

It clearly wasn't an easy decision for Long, who took plenty of time to think about all the aspects that go into retirement. But, above all else, it seems that his number one priority was playing time, and it doesn't appear that the Eagles were willing to give him a large role within their defense this season.

The lack of guaranteed playing time was a factor in Long's decision to hang up the cleats and call it a career.

During his two seasons with the Birds, Long accumulated 11.5 sacks with 38 QB hits and 5 tackles for loss. He was never starter along the Eagles defensive line, but his impact off the bench was pivotal towards helping Philly capture its first Super Bowl title.

Although Eagles fans are sad to see Long leave, they can't knock his reasoning for coming to that decision. The man wanted to play a sizable role, as any athlete should, but the team wasn't able to guarantee him that.

It's hard to win over Eagles fans as an athlete, but Chris Long did it with ease, becoming a fan favorite almost overnight. All good things come to an end, and after 11 seasons, Long's career has reached its conclusion.