FOXBOROUGH, Mass. Longtime New England Patriots safety Patrick Chung, who was scheduled to play this season after failing to qualify for the NFL campaign in 2020, reversed his course and announced his retirement on Thursday.
Chung, 33, said on Instagram that “it’s time to start a new life.”
It would have been Chung’s 12th season in the NFL and the 11th with the Patriots. He played in 153 regular-season games (122 starts), in addition to 23 playoffs (20 starts).
After originally joining the team in 2009 as a second pick from the University of Oregon, Chung was part of three Super Bowl championship teams in New England. He spent one season with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2013, but returned the following season, saying the only coach he intended to play for was Bill Belichick.
In his Instagram post, Chung said he made his retirement announcement through tears, thanking Belichick for teaching me a life on and off the field. ‘
Chung, who has regularly noted Belichick’s toughness, versatility and work ethic, is the only player in NFL history to appear in each of his first 11 seasons in the playoffs. He was selected as a member of the 2010 Patriots’ All-Decade Team.
Chung chose the family considerations of the 2020 season and said in an interview with CBS: ‘It was a difficult decision. You want to play football. I’m at the end of my career, but when it comes down to it, I feel money is not that important. I have a girlfriend who is pregnant, a baby girl coming soon, my son has some asthma, my dad is 75 years old. I felt it was the best decision for my family to keep everyone safe. It’s not over, it’s just a little delayed. ‘
In line, Chung recently worked at Gillette Stadium, indicating his plans to play again in 2021. But over the last few weeks, things have obviously changed.
The Patriots are deep in safety, with returning rookies Devin McCourty and Adrian Phillips, and top 2020 draft pick Kyle Dugger back. They also signed a $ 24 million four-year deal with defensive back Jalen Mills, who switched from cornerback to safety with the Eagles last season.