Chicago Bears: Kyle Long hints at retirement

The writing is on the wall that Kyle Long will likely retire from the Chicago Bears this year. Even he is writing some of it

When Kyle Long restructured his contract to take fewer years and money this offseason we knew that he did not have much time in the NFL left. It has been four years since Long played a full NFL season or even 10 games for that matter.

So, he restructured his deal to make less in 2019, with the possibility of being released without guaranteed money in 2020.

Unfortunately for Long, 2019 got off to a terrible start. After playing poorly for four games, Long was put on the IR, ending his season.

However, as Long mentioned on Twitter last week, he knows that the IR move had a lot more to do with play than health this time. Long admits that he was healthy after playing every snap when the team ended his season.

Long knows the business of the NFL. He knows the deal he took makes it easy for him to be let go. He knows that his play in 2019 has slipped and that he did not earn a chance to go out and perform again.

The Bears will save $8.1 million by letting Long and they likely have no plans to re-sign him on the cheap.

When asked if he would play anywhere else, Long noted that Chicago will be his only NFL jersey.

Long knows the writing is on the wall. His health took away from his play, and is play recently has been below average. Long had a stellar career, and while it did not end the way he wanted to, he understands the business of the NFL and is ready to move on.

Long has not announced anything yet, but based on the hints that he was healthy this year and will not play anywhere else, it is fair to assume that Long is going to retire.