INDIANAPOLIS – Colts starts left tackle Anthony Castonzo decided to retire after playing 10 seasons in the NFL, he announced Tuesday.
“As a child, it was my dream to play in the NFL. I played my first full season of tackle football in the second series,” Castonzo said in a statement. “Now I played my last one. While I am sitting here now, after 10 years of career in the NFL, I am extremely proud of all the hard work and sacrifice that has allowed me to turn this dream into a goal and, finally, a reality different from I could have imagined everything. “
Castonzo, a first-round pick in the 2011 draft, started all 144 games he played in his career. The Colts were 4-13 in the games he lost in his career.
“If you had told me later [rookie] training camp that I would have a 10-year career, I would have laughed in your face, “said Castonzo during a video conference with reporters.
He said his decision to retire is final.
“I made the decision. I will stick to it,” he said.
Castonzo flirted with retirement after the 2019 season, but decided to postpone it. He signed a two-year contract with the Colts in the winter of 2020, but said at the time that he planned to increase his player status year by year.
Injuries took their toll in Castonzo this season. He lost four games due to a knee and ankle injury. The Colts announced on December 30 that Castonzo would miss the rest of the regular season and then the playoff game against Buffalo, which they lost due to ankle surgery.
He said on Monday, however, that his injuries this season have not influenced his decision to retire.
“The Colts have been blessed with many talented strikers throughout our rich history and Anthony Castonzo is among the best to represent Horseshoe,” said Colts owner Jim Irsay in a statement. “For 10 seasons, Anthony has consistently dealt with major pass rushers in one of the most difficult positions to play in. He quickly became the leader of our offensive line and set a standard of preparation, strength and conditioning, and play. Anthony deserves a huge amount of credit for helping our offensive line to mature into one of the best units in the NFL. He will be sorely missed, but we appreciate AC’s contribution to our organization and congratulate him on a fantastic career. “
A cornerstone in the front and in the community.
Happy retirement, @AnthonyCastonzo!
– Indianapolis Colts (@Colts) January 12, 2021
The Colts can look inside the organization to find their replacement in the left tackle for Castonzo. Coach Frank Reich said that point guard Quenton Nelson, who was an All-Pro in that position for the three years he’s been in the NFL, is a possibility. Nelson, who had never played left tackle in his NFL career, played some snaps there against the Las Vegas Raiders on December 13th.
“[Nelson] as an option, there is certainly a realistic option that – [GM Chris Ballard] and I already had that conversation, obviously, when AC got hurt, “Reich said earlier this week.” It was like, ‘Hey, well, let’s take a look at Quenton, maybe it’s a real option.’ I’ll let Chris go into more detail on this when he arrives [the media] On thursday. But yes, that would certainly be an option, but like any other decision, you should look at all options and consider all factors. “
Castonzo said he talks regularly with ex-Colts quarterback Andrew Luck, who retired before the 2019 season, when asked on Monday what it will be like with the end of his career as a player.
“We are still good friends. I asked him, ‘How is it?’ But I definitely leaned on him, because he’s been through it, “he said.