Panthers linebacker Thomas Davis announced that he would be retiring after the 2018 season earlier this month; now, less than three weeks later, five-time Pro Bowl center Ryan Kalil has also announced that he will end his career after his 12th season in 2018. Kalil told The Charlotte Observer in an interview that “this is going to be the last one for me,” after a 2017 season that was marred by a mysterious neck injury suffered ahead of the Week 2 home opener that caused the center to miss ten games.
The 2013 & 2015 All-Pro was replaced for much of the season by 26-year old Tyler Larsen, who is an exclusive rights free agent, which means that the Panthers must submit a minimum salary tender by March 14th in order to maintain exclusive negotiating rights; Larsen has played both guard and center in the past.
Kalil says he doesn’t expect a farewell retirement tour, but looks forward to a full offseason and training to ensure that he is at 100% health and peak physical condition as he heads into his final season as a 33-year old; the Panthers signed Kalil’s younger brother Matt to play alongside him on the offensive line during 2017’s offseason, and the two brothers chided each other throughout the season as if the locker room was one big Bojangles’ commercial.
“It’s one of those things when you kind of get, I guess, the head of the household if you want to call it that,” guard Trai Turner said during the season about the elder Kalil. “It’s not just about the offensive line, he’s a voice on the offense and on this team, period so just having him out there, you know, I think it gives guys confidence and also gives a morale boost to the team.”
Kalil, who has spent his entire career with the Panthers, is due to earn a $4.5 million base salary in the final season of his contract, but the Panthers could save almost $7 million towards the cap by releasing Kalil before June 1st.
