The Washington Redskins have announced that offensive tackle Chris Samuels will retire after a 10-season career in the NFL. Samuels, who stands 6-5 and weighs 310 pounds, spent his entire career with the Redskins after being selected as the third overall pick in the 2000 NFL Draft. A key figure on the offensive line, he earned six Pro Bowl selections.
Samuels’ playing career came to an end during Week 5 of the previous season after he sustained a neck injury in a game against the Carolina Panthers. He has been dealing with spinal stenosis, a condition involving the narrowing of the spine, since high school, making any neck injury particularly concerning. Over the last four months, Samuels consulted with several medical specialists to determine if he could or should continue playing. Ultimately, the risk was deemed too significant.
Samuels played in 141 regular season games from 2000-09, all as a starter, and was a consistent force on the offensive line. His career gained momentum in 2004 when the Redskins brought back offensive line coach Joe Bugel, who played a significant role in helping Samuels reach an elite level as a left tackle. Samuels credited Bugel for helping him eliminate bad habits and improve his game.
In March 2005, Samuels signed a contract extension that he described as making him “a Redskin for life.” Throughout his career, he blocked for a 1,000-yard rusher in seven of his 10 seasons and contributed to six of the top 10 single-season rushing totals in team history, including Clinton Portis’s franchise-record 1,515 yards in 2005.
Before his NFL career, Samuels, a native of Mobile, Alabama, was a standout offensive lineman at the University of Alabama, where he won the Outland Trophy in 1999 as the nation’s top lineman and did not allow a sack or quarterback pressure during his senior season.
Washington Redskins owner Daniel M. Snyder praised Samuels for his development both on and off the field, recognizing him as an All-Pro player, a great teammate, and a leader in the community. Former Redskins head coach Joe Gibbs highlighted Samuels’ ability to handle the league’s top defensive ends without help, emphasizing his leadership and class. Joe Bugel, who coached Samuels for six years, described him as one of the finest players he ever coached and considered him a future NFL Hall of Famer. Marty Schottenheimer, another former Redskins head coach, lauded Samuels as one of the most athletic left tackles he had ever seen, noting his competitiveness and leadership.
Samuels will hold a press conference at Redskins Park on Thursday, March 4, at 12 noon ET, with complete coverage available on Redskins.com.
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