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Honoring Super Bowl champion Fletcher Cox on the occasion of his retirement from the National Football League, and recognizing Fletcher’s historic career with the Philadelphia Eagles.
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WHEREAS, Fletcher Cox was raised by his loving mother Melissa in Yazoo City, Mississippi, alongside three siblings. Fletcher maintains close ties with Yazoo City, where his family continues to live, and he credits his family, particularly his mother and his late brother Shadrick, with the success he has found on the football field and beyond; and
WHEREAS, Fletcher attended Yazoo City High School where he ran track and played on the school’s football and basketball teams. In his senior season at Yazoo City, Fletcher was selected to play in the Mississippi-Alabama High School All-Star Game and was named one of the top 250 high school football recruits in the nation and the second-best prospect from the State of Mississippi; and
WHEREAS, After graduating from Yazoo City, Fletcher continued his education and his football career at Mississippi State University, where he immediately began making an impact on the field. Fletcher played in all 12 of the team’s games in his freshman season and was honored as a Freshman All-Southeastern Conference selection. In Cox’s third and final year at Mississippi State, he was selected First-team All-American and First-team All-SEC; and
WHEREAS, Following his stand-out junior season at Mississippi State, Fletcher elected to pursue his career in the NFL and he was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles with the 12th overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft; and
WHEREAS, After establishing his position in the team’s defensive rotation during his first season with the Eagles, Cox became a full-time starter during his second year with the team. Fletcher began earning recognition as one of the league’s best defensive linemen in his third year with the Eagles, when he was honored with his first Second-team All-Pro selection; and
WHEREAS, Fletcher Cox played an indispensable role in the Eagles’ Super Bowl championship run in the 2017-18 season. Both feared and respected, Cox anchored the Eagles’ defense as the team made a historic run to its first Super Bowl championship and the team’s first NFL championship since 1960. Eagles fans will forever remember the Super Bowl parade that Fletcher helped to bring to the City of Philadelphia; and
WHEREAS, Throughout his career with the Eagles, Fletcher Cox was consistently recognized as one of the NFL’s best defensive players. Fletcher was a Pro Bowler for six consecutive seasons and was honored with three Second-team and one First-team All-Pro selections. Fletcher also earned a place on the NFL’s All-Decade Team for the 2010s, a recognition of his sustained excellence during his time with the Eagles; and
WHEREAS, Fletcher Cox is a proud native of Yazoo City, Mississippi, but he has developed a special relationship with the City of Philadelphia, his adopted hometown for the last 12 years. Throughout his career with the Eagles, Fletcher displayed a passion and dedication for Philadelphia that made him a beloved figure among Eagles fans across the globe. In announcing his retirement, Cox wrote: “I gave everything to this team and to this city. I don’t know what’s next for me, but I do know that I’m forever grateful for my time here in Philadelphia and with the Eagles organization.” City Council is proud to join with Philadelphians and Eagles fans everywhere to celebrate Fletcher Cox’s remarkable career; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That we hereby honor Super Bowl champion Fletcher Cox on the occasion of his retirement from the National Football League, and recognize Fletcher’s historic career with the Philadelphia Eagles.
FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Fletcher Cox as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.
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