With the 2017 NFL season officially in the books for the Carolina Panthers, linebacker Thomas Davis is seemingly one step closer to retirement. Thomas had signed a one-year extension with the Panthers coming into the season.
The thinking at the time was that it would likely be his last year. It seems Davis will be sticking to that projection after announcing his retirement via NFL.com on Friday:
This will definitely be my last year coming up. One of the reasons is I want to continue my contractual obligations. I signed on for a one-year extension, and I want to complete that. I've never been a guy to quit anything and I'm not going to start doing that now.
Aside from the wear and tear that comes with playing 13 seasons in the NFL, Davis said part of the reason for his announcement was to spend more time with his kids.
As a father, I want to be able to spend as much time with them as I possibly can — and being an NFL player, that's not always the case.
Davis has long been the staple of this Panthers defense ever since they took him in the first round of the 2005 NFL Draft. During that time, he has accumulated two Pro Bowl selections en route to becoming Carolina's franchise-leader in tackles.
The 35-year-old Davis slowed down a bit this year after registering just 76 tackles. As a result, the writing could have been on the wall for his impending retirement. That said, it will likely be Super Bowl or bust next season for the Panthers as they try to send out their veteran leader with a bang.
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