Sean Lee is calling it a career. The longtime Cowboys linebacker tells ESPN.com’s Todd Archer (on Twitter) that he will retire after eleven seasons in the NFL. 
As recently as late March, Lee was said to be in talks with the Cowboys for a return. Even though the oft-injured ‘backer is long removed from his days as an elite defender, he still could have been a solid rotational option for Dallas. Lee played in just nine games in 2020, but had perfect attendance (including 13 starts) in 2019, including two double-digit tackle games down the stretch. All in all, he had 86 stops, a sack, an interception, and four passes defensed in ’19, leading to a one-year, $4.5MM re-up for 2020.
Unfortunately, last year’s sports hernia surgery wiped out the early part of his season. Between that, his early career ACL tear, and other injuries, Lee felt that it would be best to move on from football. Without Lee, the Cowboys will move forward with Leighton Vander Esch, Jaylon Smith, and recently acquired safety/LB Keanu Neal in the group.
Despite all of the injuries, Lee was a two-time Pro Bowler and a first-team All-Pro selection in 2016. And, throughout his tenure, Lee was regarded as the leader of the Dallas’ defense. We here at PFR wish Lee a happy and healthy retirement.
Needs to slide right in on the coaching staff!
Wonder what his career would have looked like if he wasn’t injured all the time
Top 10 LB all time
I fully came here with the intent of saying “very good player who may well have been HOF with better health.”
Sean was a beast in college and he changed the O-Cords plan of attack when he was on the field in Dallas. He reeked havoc on every play from sideline to sideline.
I hope he is going out on his own terms.
Probably could have been a HoF player if injuries didn’t derail his career
How will Cowboys fans justify losing now that they can’t use the “if Sean Lee was healthy” excuse?
“if leighton vanderesh was healthy.”
This
If Dak was healthy, or the entire offensive line.
If we only had a defense
Riiiight
Congrats to Sean on a solid career and best of luck in retirement. I grew up in a neighboring town from him and played a good bit of basketball against him in middle school and high school. He played basketball like a middle linebacker, everyone knew he wasn’t going to shoot from outside but drive to the hoop and hope 2-3 people were in his way so he could hit somebody. Super intense competitor but always had respect for the game and his opponents.
Sean was an old school player who would give his coach 100% effort every down, suck up the punishment and never complain. Wish him the best in retirement.
He sucked up A LOT of pain.
Another one of my favorite players to watch. He was a game changer when he was healthy
Hell of a player. As a Giants fan kind happy but congrats a great career
How was he one of the great cowboy lb’s and an injury prone waste of a roster spot? Very rare lol
Every time he went down you basically knew the defense was going to suck that year.
Any chance he eventually gets into the HOF?
Based on the three Cowboy Super Bowl wins during his eleven years in Dallas, Sean Lee is a shoe-in to the HOF.
Doubt Lee makes ring of honour in Texas Stadium or Gillette After Shave or whatever the damn stadium is called these days.