Former NFL offensive lineman Charles Leno Jr. announced his retirement from football on Tuesday, exactly two years after his wife experienced a miscarriage that, according to him, changed his perspective on life and ended his passion for the game.
Leno shared the news in a three-page letter on Instagram, posting at 2:46 p.m., the same time he learned of the miscarriage while in Atlanta preparing for a Washington Commanders game in 2023.
“That day changed everything for me,” he wrote. “It changed the way I see life, the way I carry myself, and most of all, it changed what matters most to me.”
The 34-year-old offensive tackle spent 10 seasons in the NFL, starting 141 of 149 career games with the Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders. Drafted in the seventh round by Chicago in 2014, Leno became one of the league’s most durable left tackles, earning a Pro Bowl selection in 2019 before signing with Washington, where he played his final three seasons.
Leno was placed on injured reserve in December 2023 before being released by the Commanders in the 2024 offseason.
In his statement, he thanked fans, teammates and coaches while paying tribute to his wife, Jen, whom he called “my rock,” and their three daughters.
“Football was a chapter. A big one,” he wrote. “But my story continues as I step into the most important role of my life as a full-time husband and father.”
The Illinois native closed his letter with a message to the daughter he and Jen lost, writing, “To our Angel, Paitynn — this moment is for you. Daddy loves you forever. I carry you with me every day.”
