Luke Kuechly and 5 star players who retired in their primes

Patrick Willis

This is the player that just about everyone is going to compare with Kuechly. Patrick Willis was the best middle linebacker in the game for a few seasons. They both played eight seasons and they were both five-time first-team All-Pros at the position. Willis and Kuechly were both somewhat under-appreciated in their time.

Willis had just turned 30 years old when he called it quits. It wasn’t concussions that he was dealing with. Willis had major issues with his feet, including a broken toe that ruined his last season. He was set to make more than $8 million in each of the next two seasons, but that wasn’t what motivated him. He was ready to say goodbye, and didn’t want to fight through injuries until the 49ers decided it was time to say goodbye. This was on his terms.

Willis was the first of these surprise retirements that came from injuries in this era. This is when big, big money was still on the line, so it felt like a major surprise when Willis held this announcement.

Patrick Willis was named a finalist for the Hall of Fame, but has not gotten in yet. It’s something Kuechly is going to pay close attention to since their careers mimic each other so closely. Willis went out before the NFL forced him out, even when there was still money for him to make.