Kory Lichtensteiger Announces Retirement After Eight NFL Seasons

The Washington Redskins have lost one of their centers to retirement. Kory Lichtensteiger called it quits on Friday after spending eight seasons in the NFL.

During the 2017 NFL offseason, the Washington Redskins were always expected to move on from Kory Lichtensteiger. The veteran center had spent seven seasons with the Redskins, but he had regressed during 2015 and 2016. He was only able to stay healthy for 9 total games, and his on the field ability had started to decline. Spencer Long looks to be the long term option at center, and moving on from Lichtensteiger was a foregone conclusion.

The veteran center elected to take matters into his own hands on Friday afternoon. Lichtensteiger retired from the NFL in an announcement that came via the Redskins official site. Here is his full statement:

Though the Redskins will not necessarily miss Lichtensteiger on the field, it certainly is tough to see one of the team’s longest tenured players walk away. He made a selfless move to give the team some extra cap space, and he likely sacrificed a chance to play as a backup on another team.

Simply put, Lichtensteiger and the Redskins got what both of them wanted. The Redskins are free from Lichtensteiger’s cap hold, but they did not have to jettison the long time Redskins. Lichtensteiger gets to go out on his own terms in the city that he loves. It is a win-win for both sides.

We here at Riggo’s Rag would like to wish Lichtensteiger well as he rides off into the sunset.