Former OL Charles Leno’s Retirement Shocks Fans – What’s Next for the Veteran NFL Star?

Charles Leno Jr., a stalwart on the NFL offensive line for over a decade, has decided to hang up his cleats this week. His retirement announcement carries a weight far beyond the gridiron—exactly two years after a heartbreaking moment that reshaped his entire outlook on life. On that day, his wife Jen suffered a devastating loss, miscarrying their daughter Paitynn at precisely 2:46 p.m., a moment that found Leno far from home, preparing to face the Falcons in Atlanta. He didn’t take the field that day, and he hasn’t been quite the same since. Drafted in the seventh round by the Bears back in 2014, Charles carved out a solid career with Chicago before moving to Washington, where the Commanders eventually let him go in the 2024 offseason. Despite not suiting up last season, Leno’s legacy is undeniable: 141 starts at left tackle, 149 appearances, and a well-earned Pro Bowl nod in 2018. His journey reminds us that sometimes, life’s toughest moments redefine what truly matters most. LEARN MORE

Former NFL offensive lineman Charles Leno Jr. announced his retirement on Tuesday.

His announcement came two years to the day after his wife, Jen, miscarried their fourth daughter, Paitynn, at the exact time (2:46 p.m.). Leno learned of her miscarriage while he was in Atlanta for a Commanders game against the Falcons.

He did not play.

“That day changed everything for me,” Leno wrote in an Instagram post. “It changed the way I see life, the way I carry myself and most of all, it changed what matters most to me.”

The Bears selected Leno in the seventh round of the 2014 draft. He spent seven years with the Bears before they traded him to Washington.

The Commanders released him in the 2024 offseason, and he did not play last season.

Leno, 34, started 141 games at left tackle and played in 149.

He was selected to the Pro Bowl in 2018.