On a busy day full of trades and franchise tag news, we’ve also got a player coming out of retirement. Offensive lineman Kyle Long is planning on returning to the NFL and has signed with an agent, his brother Chris Long confirmed on Twitter.
Long retired from the league in January of 2020, then admitted in July that he missed the game, but ultimately sat out the season. That one season away was apparently enough for him to feel re-fueled. The 20th pick of the 2013 draft, Long spent each of his seven seasons in the NFL with the Bears. He had immediate success, starting at least 15 games in each of his first three seasons and making the Pro Bowl in all of those years.
Injuries soon caused things to unravel, and over the following four seasons he never appeared in more than ten games. Still only 32 and capable of playing at a high level, Long should have no problem finding a home assuming he’s healthy. Hopefully the year off was enough to get his body right.
He’s mostly played guard, but also started 16 games and made the Pro Bowl at right tackle in 2015.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
