INDIANAPOLIS – Anthony Castonzo, who is launching the left-back, has decided to retire after playing ten seasons in the NFL, he announced Tuesday.
“As a kid, it was my dream to play in the NFL. I played my first full season of second-class football,” Castonzo said in a statement. “Now I played my last time. As I sit here now, after a 10-year NFL career, I’m very proud of all the hard work and sacrifice that has enabled me to develop that dream into a purpose, and finally into a reality different from anything else. I could even imagine. “
Castonzo, a first-choice pick in the 2011 draft, has started all 144 games he has played in his career. The Colts were 4-13 in the games he missed in his career.
‘If you had told me afterwards [rookie] a training camp that I would have a career of ten years, I would have laughed in your face, ‘Castonzo said during a video news conference with reporters.
He said his decision to retire was final.
“I made the decision. I stick to it,” he said.
Castonzo flirted with retirement after the 2019 season, but decided to postpone it. He signed a two-year contract with the Colts in the winter of 2020, but he said at the time that he planned to take on his playing status year after year.
Injuries have taken a toll on Castonzo this season. He missed four games due to a knee and ankle injury. The Colts announced on December 30 that Castonzo would miss the rest of the regular season and then their playoff game against Buffalo, which they lost due to a single operation.
However, he said on Monday that his injuries did not play a role in his decision to retire this season.
“The Colts have been blessed with many talented offensive linemen in our rich history and Anthony Castonzo is one of the best to represent the horseshoe,” Colts owner Jim Irsay said in a statement. “Throughout ten seasons, Anthony has consistently handled the first pass hunters in one of the toughest positions. He quickly developed into the leader of our offensive line and set a standard for preparation, strength and conditioning, and play. Anthony deserves a tremendous the honor that he helped our offensive line to become one of the best units in the NFL, he will be greatly missed, but we are greatly appreciated for AC’s contribution to our organization and we congratulate him on a fantastic career. “
A cornerstone in front of and in the community.
Happy retirement, @AnthonyCastonzo!
– Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) 12 January 2021
The Colts might look inside the organization to find their replacement at Castonzo on the left. Coach Frank Reich said guard Quenton Nelson, who has been an All-Pro in all three years he has been in the NFL. Nelson, who has never had a left-hander in his NFL career, played a few snaps against the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 13.
“[Nelson] as an option there is definitely a realistic option that – [GM Chris Ballard] and I already had that conversation when AC got hurt, “Reich said earlier this week. It was like, ‘Hey, let’s look at Quenton, maybe that’s a real option.’ I will allow Chris to provide more details on this when he arrives [the media] on Thursday. But yes, it would definitely be an option, but like every other decision, you need to look at all the options and consider all the factors. ‘
Castonzo said he regularly talks to former Colts full-back Andrew Luck, who retired before the 2019 season, when asked on Monday what his playing career will be like.
“We are still good friends. I asked him, ‘How are you?’ “But I definitely leaned on him because he went through it,” he said.