Philly Leader

One of the most influential figures in NFL history, offensive tackle Jason Peters, has announced his retirement after a remarkable 21-year career. The announcement came on Tuesday, marking the end of a journey that included 11 seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles. Peters concluded his career on the Seattle Seahawks' practice squad in 2024 and last appeared in an NFL game with Seattle during the previous season.

Reflecting on Peters' career, Howie Roseman, Executive Vice President/General Manager of the Eagles, commented from the NFL Scouting Combine: "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." He added praise for Peters' athleticism and character: "Elite athlete. Elite teammate. World Champion. In my mind, no doubt first-ballot Hall of Famer."

Peters joined the Eagles through a significant trade with the Buffalo Bills in 2009 to fill the gap left by Tra Thomas at left tackle. The Eagles gave up multiple draft picks and extended Peters’ contract to secure him as a cornerstone player.

During his tenure with Philadelphia, Peters solidified his legacy by securing seven Pro Bowl selections—second only to Chuck Bednarik in franchise history—and four All-Pro honors. He was also named to the NFL's All-Decade Team for the 2010s. Despite missing the entire 2012 season due to an Achilles injury, he returned as a first-team All-Pro in 2013 and narrowly missed winning Comeback Player of the Year.

Jeff Stoutland, Run Game Coordinator/Offensive Line Coach for Philadelphia, once described Peters as "a rare kind of guy," emphasizing his exceptional talent and influence: "I consider myself blessed to have been in position to coach Jason."

Peters was highly regarded by teammates and served as an inspiration during challenging times. After suffering a knee injury in 2017 that ended his season prematurely, teammate Lane Johnson honored him by carrying Peters' jersey onto the field during Super Bowl LII.

Jordan Mailata credited much of his development to Peters' mentorship: "Playing with him for one year and being around him and seeing how he treats his craft has been so beneficial," Mailata said.

Peters began his career as an undrafted tight end from Arkansas before evolving into one of modern football’s greatest offensive linemen.