A former All-Pro center is calling it a career.
The Los Angeles Chargers have released center Corey Linsley, who is expected to retire after 10 NFL seasons, the team announced on Wednesday.
"Corey is everything you hope for and more in an NFL player," Chargers president John Spanos said in a statement. "The consummate professional, his mentorship of younger players, work ethic, integrity, leadership, competitive drive and sense of humor all played a role in earning him the 'C' on his jersey throughout the entirety of his time with us. And as good of a football player as he is, Corey's an even better person.
"To that end, at a time when he and his wife, Anna, were growing their family from two children to four while with the Chargers, they still made it a priority to serve the community as passionate advocates for CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) -- work that earned Corey not one, but two Walter Payton Man of the Year nominations during his career.
"While he has taken his last snap in the NFL, Corey's story is far from being written. We cannot wait to see what the next chapter has in store for the Linsleys, and we wish Corey, Anna, Seamus, Killian, Quinn and Ruth all the best moving forward."
Linsley walks away with 144 career games played -- all starts -- two All-Pro selections and a Pro Bowl nod, which he earned in his first season in Los Angeles.
A four-star recruit from Boardman High School (Ohio), Linsley entered the NFL as a fifth-round pick out of Ohio State and ascended into prominence in Green Bay, filling in for JC Tretter in his first few seasons before officially replacing him in 2017. Linsley started every game for the Packers from 2017-19 and earned a first-team All-Pro selection in 2020. He cashed in on the honor almost instantly, signing a five-year, $62.5 million deal with the Chargers in 2021.
Unfortunately, health became a hindrance for Linsley over his first two seasons with the Bolts, as he battled injuries while still managing to appear in 30 games. A heart-related issue ended his 2023 season at the end of September, preceding his June retirement.
