On a busy day full of news about transactions and franchise labels, we also have a player coming out of retirement. Offensive liner Kyle Long he plans to return to the NFL and has signed with an agent, his brother Chris Long confirmed on Twitter.
For a long time he retired from the league in January 2020, and then admitted in July that he lost the game, but was finally left out of the season. That season away was apparently enough to make him feel fed up. The twentieth pick in the 2013 draft, Long spent each of his seven seasons in the NFL with the Bears. He was immediately successful, starting at least 15 games in each of his first three seasons and winning the Pro Bowl in all those years.
Injuries soon caused things to fall apart and, over the next four seasons, he never appeared in more than ten games. Still only 32 years old and able to play at a high level, Long should have no trouble finding a home assuming he is healthy. I wish the free year was enough to do well.
He has played mostly on guard, but has also started 16 games and got the Pro Bowl on the right in 2015.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.