After 12 years in the league, is it time for LeSean McCoy to retire? If he hangs up his cleats, it will be in style. The running back has won two Super Bowls, been named to the Pro Bowl six times, was the NFL’s leading rusher in 2013, and is a two-time All-Pro.
“I would be lying to say that it wasn’t, it is,” McCoy says on whether he’s considering retirement. “Mentally I’m good with that. I got a lot of things set up, a lot of different gigs set up. It will keep me busy, and keep me active.”
The Eagles all-time leading rusher joined The Sports Extra Podcast this week to talk about his NFL future, what it would take for him to play another season in the NFL and if it is time to retire.
McCoy has talked about real estate investing on social media, continued to host charity events through his foundation Shades of Greatness, and began to formulate his plans for his post-playing career. His family is another consideration for retiring after 12 seasons.
“I try to look at the good from the bad, and if the good outweighs the bad, I’m okay with that,” McCoy said. “When I say bad, not like something will happen but just like if I don’t play, what is the worst that can happen if I don’t play? I might miss it. I’ve never done it. That’s the biggest thing thing, since I was like five or four I’ve been playing ball every year. So it’s just something that you take out of your life, that’s always been there. It’s all about adjusting and I’ll see what happens.”
NFL Career
Contents
His NFL career is storied, the running back was drafted in the second round by his hometown Philadelphia Eagles. Growing up outside of Harrisburg, McCoy says the Birds took a chance on him and he’ll always be a Philadelphia Eagle.
His place in the history books in Philly is fairly cemented. He’s the all-time leading rusher in franchise history.
Philadelphia Eagles
In six seasons, he compiled 6.792 yards and 44 touchdowns. He has the Eagles record over Wilbert Montgomery (6,538 yards), Brian Westbrook (5,995 yards) and Steve Van Buren (5,860 yards). Montgomery, Westbrook and Van Buren hit their marks in eight seasons, McCoy did so in just six.
In 2013, McCoy led the league in rushing yards with 1,607 on 314 attempts. He also chipped in 9 touchdowns that season.
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – AUGUST 28: Running back LeSean McCoy #25 of the Philadelphia Eagles watches the preseason game against the New York Jets from the bench on August 28, 2014 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) -
PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 07: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs for a first down as Josh Evans #26 of the Jacksonville Jaguars attempts a tackle during the fourth quarter of a NFL game at Lincoln Financial Field on September 7, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Jaguars 34-17. (Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images) -
PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 21: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts after teammate Chris Polk #32 scored a 102-yard touchdown in the first quarter against the Washington Redskins at Lincoln Financial Field on September 21, 2014 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rich Schultz/Getty Images) -
PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 08: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Philadelphia Eagles carries the ball in the third quarter against the Detroit Lions on December 8, 2013 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) -
PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 8: Running back LeSean McCoy #25 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs off the field after defeating the Detroit Lions 34-20 in a game at Lincoln Financial Field on December 8, 2013 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Eagles defeated the Lions 34-20. (Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images) -
PHILADELPHIA, PA – DECEMBER 22: Nick Foles #9 of the Philadelphia Eagles hands the ball off to LeSean McCoy #25 during the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Lincoln Financial Field on December 22, 2013 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) -
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 13: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Philadelphia Eagles carries the ball while being pressured by Rashad Johnson #49 of the Arizona Cardinals at Lincoln Financial Field on November 13, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Cardinals won 21-17. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) -
PHILADELPHIA, PA – NOVEMBER 13: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Arizona Cardinals during the first half at Lincoln Financial Field on November 13, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) -
PHILADELPHIA – MAY 1: Running back Brian Westbrook #36 (R) stands on the sideline with second round draft pick running back LeSean McCoy #29 of the Philadelphia Eagles during minicamp at the NovaCare Complex on May 1, 2009 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Hunter Martin/Getty Images) -
PHILADELPHIA – AUGUST 27: LeSean McCoy #29 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs the ball against Brian Iwuh #59 of the Jacksonville Jaguars on August 27, 2009 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images) -
PHILADELPHIA – SEPTEMBER 27: LeSean McCoy #29 of the Philadelphia Eagles tries to break free from Mike Brown #30 of the Kansas City Chiefs during their game on September 27, 2009 at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Travis Lindquist/Getty Images) -
PHILADELPHIA, PA – JANUARY 09: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Philadelphia Eagles takes the field before they play against the Green Bay Packers during the 2011 NFC wild card playoff game at Lincoln Financial Field on January 9, 2011 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Nick Laham/Getty Images) -
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 28: Running back LeSean McCoy #25 of the Philadelphia Eagles looks for room to run against the Atlanta Falcons during the first half in a game at Lincoln Financial Field on October 28, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The Falcons defeated the Eagles 30-17. (Photo by Rich Schultz /Getty Images) -
GREEN BAY, WI – NOVEMBER 16: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Philadelphia Eagles runs the ball against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field on November 16, 2014 in Green Bay, Wisconsin. (Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images)
Buffalo Bills
He played for the Eagles through the 2014-15 season, until Philadelphia traded McCoy to the Bills for LB Kiko Alonso.
His best season in Buffalo came in 2016, where he rushed for 1,267 yards on 234 attempts with 13 touchdowns. It is also his best season since leaving the Eagles.
Shady made the Pro Bowl in each of his first three seasons with the Bills, and helped the team make the playoffs for the first time in 17 years.
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MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 23: Running back LeSean McCoy #25 of the Buffalo Bills warms up before the game against the Minnesota Vikings at U.S. Bank Stadium on September 23, 2018 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) -
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 11: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Buffalo Bills scores a first quarter rushing touchdown past Marcus Maye #26 of the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on November 11, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) -
EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY – NOVEMBER 11: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Buffalo Bills celebrates his second quarter touchdown against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on November 11, 2018 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images) -
FOXBOROUGH, MA – DECEMBER 23: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Buffalo Bills reacts during the first half against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) -
FOXBOROUGH, MA – DECEMBER 23: Ufomba Kamalu #97 of the New England Patriots attempts to tackle LeSean McCoy #25 of the Buffalo Bills during the first half at Gillette Stadium on December 23, 2018 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images) -
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – AUGUST 16: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Buffalo Bills checks the scoreboard during the second quarter of their preseason game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on August 16, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Grant Halverson/Getty Images)
Kansas City Chiefs
He played four seasons with the Bills before the team released him in final roster cuts on August 31, 2019. That same day, former Eagles coach Andy Reid signed McCoy to a one-year, $3 million contract to play for the Kansas City Chiefs.
That season, Shady and the Chiefs won the Super Bowl. He was used off and on throughout the season as a change-of-pace back. He was inactive for much of the postseason, only playing in one snap in the Divisional round against the Houston Texans.
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DETROIT, MICHIGAN – SEPTEMBER 29: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs the ball against Mike Ford #38 of the Detroit Lions in the first quarter of the game at Ford Field on September 29, 2019 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) -
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – NOVEMBER 03: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Kansas City Chiefs runs with the ball during the first half against the Minnesota Vikings at Arrowhead Stadium on November 03, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) -
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI – DECEMBER 01: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Kansas City Chiefs celebrates as he scores a 3 yard touchdown against the Oakland Raiders during the third quarter in the game at Arrowhead Stadium on December 01, 2019 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) -
FOXBOROUGH, MA – DECEMBER 8: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Kansas City Chiefs warms up prior to the start of the game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on December 8, 2019 in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Photo by Kathryn Riley/Getty Images) -
AVENTURA, FLORIDA – JANUARY 29: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Kansas City Chiefs speaks to the media during the Kansas City Chiefs media availability prior to Super Bowl LIV at the JW Marriott Turnberry on January 29, 2020 in Aventura, Florida. (Photo by Mark Brown/Getty Images)
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
In August of 2020, McCoy signed to play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, joining a star-studded roster headlined by quarterback Tom Brady/
McCoy played a veteran role in the running back room, stacked with talent from Ronald Jones II, Leonard Fournette and Ke’Shawn Vaughn. In 2020, he has 10 carries for 31 yards and 15 receptions for 101 yards in ten games. At the end of the season, McCoy had his second Super Bowl ring, this time against his former team: the Chiefs.
McCoy joins a small list of players who have won back-to-back titles with different teams.
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TAMPA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 20: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers catches the ball during training camp at AdventHealth Training Center on August 20, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) -
TAMPA, FLORIDA – AUGUST 25: Tom Brady #12 and LeSean McCoy #25 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers work out during training camp ahead of the 2020-21 NFL season at AdventHealth Training Center on August 25, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) -
TAMPA, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 08: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers looks on during training camp at Raymond James Stadium on September 08, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) -
TAMPA, FLORIDA – SEPTEMBER 09: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up during training camp at AdventHealth Training Center on September 09, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Douglas P. DeFelice/Getty Images) -
TAMPA, FLORIDA – NOVEMBER 23: LeSean McCoy #25 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers warms up prior to the game against the Los Angeles Rams at Raymond James Stadium on November 23, 2020 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images) -
TAMPA, FLORIDA – FEBRUARY 07: Tom Brady #12 and LeSean McCoy #25 of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers embrace after winning Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium on February 07, 2021 in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
Future NFL Plans
In 2021, Shady’s NFL future is uncertain. He says he has talked to some teams, but wants to find the right fit if he’s going to come back to play another season.
The 32-year-old has 11,102 career rushing yards and 73 touchdowns, plus 3,898 yards on 518 receptions with 16 receiving touchdowns in 12 seasons.