Patrick Chung retires from the NFL

Miami Dolphins v New England Patriots
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Veteran safety Patrick Chung has retired from the NFL.

Chung, who opted out of the 2020 season, announced his decision on social media.

A second-round pick in 2009 (he arrived with the pick the Pats received from the Chiefs for Matt Cassel and Mike Vrabel), Chung spent four years with the Patriots and one with the Eagles before returning to New England. He won three Super Bowl championships.

Recently, Chung hinted that “big news” was coming.

He appeared in 153 regular-season games with 122 starts, registering 11 career interceptions.

Although Chung’s decision to end his career is voluntary, plenty of players who opted out in 2020 are getting released. Whether there’s quiet resentment of those who chose not to play or a recognition that the train kept rolling without them, many players who opted out may have a hard time getting back in.

22 responses to “Patrick Chung retires from the NFL

  1. He put in 11 years a long career, especially for such a physical player.

    A tough in the box safety, lined up and played more like a LB. Locked up w/TE’s and RB’s in coverage, played the run and was a good pass rusher. A total football player.

  2. Fine career. There will naturally be skepticism of anyone who sat out the season from the standpoint of whether they can come back and not have lost a step or a good deal of the internal fire. Natural.

  3. What a nice little career. BB created the Rover role and wanted it since 2008, but couldn’t find a guy who could tackle in the box like an lb and take out TEs. From 2014-2018 in those 5 years and 3 rings no one did it better. If he hadn’t broken his arm in the sb va Philly, NE wins that one too. Tough as nails and a heck of a swiss army knife.

  4. So many holes to fill on this team. They spent all their money on 2 TEs after drafting 2 in the 3rd last year. GMBB is very terrible.

  5. touchback6 says:
    March 18, 2021 at 10:04 am
    What a nice little career. BB created the Rover role and wanted it since 2008, but couldn’t find a guy who could tackle in the box like an lb and take out TEs. From 2014-2018 in those 5 years and 3 rings no one did it better. If he hadn’t broken his arm in the sb va Philly, NE wins that one too. Tough as nails and a heck of a swiss army knife.

    —–

    LOL! The Pats couldn’t stop the Eagles with Chung in the game….even once. If BB simply set his ego aside and played Malcom Butler NE wins the SB against the Eagles.

  6. Watson’s Rub ‘n Tug Spa says:
    March 18, 2021 at 9:56 am
    next stop the hall of average. More like next stop Patriots hall of fame!

  7. Chung’s retirement has nothing to do with the opt out. Chung is one of the players that Belichick admires the most– no resentment there. Chung has been talking retirement for a couple of years. Chung was a Patriot thru and thru.

  8. He gave us all he had chung is a legend in new England love you brother enjoy you’re well earned retirement.

  9. After opting out for a whole year, he was probably sitting on his couch eating bugles and beef jerky and thought this is nice. 33 and a multi-millionaire, I think I’ll retire.

  10. Watson’s Rub ‘n Tug Spa says:
    March 18, 2021 at 9:56 am
    next stop the hall of average
    ———————————————-

    Wouldn’t you love to be an average NFL player — WITH 3 SUPER BOWL RINGS!!!!

  11. Just because some players who opted out in 2020 are getting dropped by their current teams doesn’t mean that they aren’t going to land with another team. It is unfair to imply that teams are out to get the guys who opted out without going through the list and seeing (a) how many have been cut and (b) how many of those have not been signed with another team. Those who were cut and re-signed with their team on a cheaper contract are clearly not limited to those who opted out as quite a few players fit that bill.

  12. Chung may have lost half a step at the end but he gave it all he had every time he took the field. Wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors

  13. Chung was a good player for them the 2nd time around. He already started a business during his opt out yr and was ready to move on. I didn’t really get the Jalen Mills signing. I do now.

  14. I wouldn’t call him a safety because he seemed to be everywhere on the field. Great career, enjoy retirement!

  15. Safety wasn’t one of the positions the Patriots had a hole at. Best of luck to Patrick.

  16. Chung called an audible into one of the worst plays in Patriots history, a fake put against the Jets in a playoff game that ended their season

    Let’s tell the whole story.

  17. Was not very good his first Sri t with the Pats, always seemed to a step behind. Maybe he was trying g to be Rodney Harrison..

    Second time though after the Eagles cut him, he was good. Some games he went up better players and got beat, but he was pretty good.

    On the Patriots 22 guys who do their job and are in the hall of average means we have a chance to win it all.

    Brady was in the hall of average from 99-03, and they won 1 bowl during those years

    Eat some Lobster.

  18. In 2018 Belichick was quoted as saying Chung was “one of the best players in the league.” Pretty good praise for a guy on his way to the “hall of average.” Belichick is also on record as saying he misused Chung during his first stint in Foxborough, and we all saw how well he played the second time around.

    Chung is going to be one of those really good players always associated with the Patriots’ success, similar to the way Patriots fans remember the Bruschis, Browns, Faulks, Lights, etc.

    I believe the Jalen Mills signing was a result of Chung letting them know he was hanging it up, and not the other way around. Regardless, enjoy retirement Pat.

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