INDIANAPOLIS – Colts starting left-back Anthony Castonzo have decided to retire after playing 10 seasons in the NFL, he announced Tuesday.
“As a kid, it was my dream to play in the NFL. I played my first full boarding school football season in second grade,” Castonzo said in a statement. “Now I’ve played the last one. While I’m here, after a 10-year career in the NFL, I’m extremely proud of all the hard work and sacrifice that allowed me to turn that dream into a goal and ultimately a goal. reality different from anything. I could have even imagined it. “
Castonzo, coach of the first round of the 2011 draft, started the 144 games he played in his career. The Colts were 4-13 in the games they lost in their career.
“If you had told me later [rookie] training camp that would have a ten-year career, would have laughed in my face, ”Castonzo said during a video press conference with reporters.
He said his decision to retire is unappealable.
“I made the decision. I joined,” 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 said at the time that he planned to adopt his player status each year.
Injuries affected Castonzo last season. He missed four games due to a knee and ankle injury. The Colts announced on Dec. 30 that Castonzo would miss the rest of the regular season and then his playoff game against Buffalo, which he lost due to ankle surgery.
He said Monday, however, that his injuries this season played no role in his decision to retire.
“The Colts have been blessed with many talented offensive line men throughout our rich history and Anthony Castonzo is one of the best in representing the horseshoe,” Colts owner Jim Irsay said in a statement. “For ten seasons, Anthony constantly handled the first passers in one of the most difficult positions to play. He quickly became the leader of our offensive line and set a standard of preparation, strength and conditioning and play. Anthony is he deserves a huge amount of credit for helping our offensive line become one of the best units in the NFL. We will miss him, but we appreciate AC’s contribution to our organization and congratulate him on a fantastic career. ” .
A cornerstone in front and in the community.
Happy retirement, @AnthonyCastonzo!
– Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) January 12, 2021
The Colts could look inside the organization to find their replacement to Castonzo’s left. Coach Frank Reich said goalie Quenton Nelson, who has been All-Pro in that position in the three years he’s been in the NFL, is a possibility. Nelson, who had never played left in his NFL career, played there a few times against the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 13.
“[Nelson] as an option, there is certainly a realistic option that – [GM Chris Ballard] and I already had that conversation, obviously, when AC got hurt, “Reich said earlier this week.” It was like, “Hey, so let’s take a look at Quenton, maybe it’s a real choice.” I’ll let Chris explain more details about this when he arrives [the media] Thursday. But yes, it would definitely be an option, but like any other decision, you have to look at all the options and consider all the factors. “
Castonzo said he talks to former Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who retired before the 2019 season, regularly when asked Monday about what his professional career will be like.
“We’re still good friends. I asked him, ‘How are you?’ But I definitely relied on him, because it has happened, ”he said.