NFL PLAYER NEWS

Well-traveled QB McCown announces retirement

Field Level Media

June 17, 2019 at 7:17 pm.

Oct 29, 2017; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Josh McCown (15) passes against the Atlanta Falcons during the third quarter at MetLife Stadium. Photo Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Oct 29, 2017; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Jets quarterback Josh McCown (15) passes against the Atlanta Falcons during the third quarter at MetLife Stadium. Photo Credit: Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

Josh McCown, whose 17-year NFL career spanned 10 teams, announced his retirement Monday.

His longest tenure with any franchise was four seasons, that being with the Arizona Cardinals, who drafted McCown in the third round of the 2002 draft.

He started 22 games for the Cardinals, the most he had in any of his NFL stops.

“But looking back, I’m proud of how my career has gone,” he wrote at The Players’ Tribune website. “I don’t shy away from the journeyman label. I embrace it, full force.

“Because it’s been one heck of a journey.”

McCown played in 99 games (76 starts) across 16 seasons, completing 1,581 of 2,628 passes for 17,707 yards, with 98 touchdowns and 82 interceptions.

McCown, who turns 40 on July 4, spent the past two seasons with the New York Jets, serving as the starter in 2017. He appeared in four games (three starts) last season, serving as a backup to rookie Sam Darnold.

McCown’s career also took him to the Detroit Lions, Oakland Raiders, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, San Francisco 49ers, Chicago Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Cleveland Browns.

“At the end of the day, no matter what team I was on, I tried to serve it to the best of my ability, and I tried to influence my team in a positive manner. I hope I did that,” McCown wrote.

“And I made sure that when my number was called, I was prepared, and I gave it everything I had, every time. I may not have turned out to be the franchise quarterback I set out to be back at Cardinals rookie camp, but I’m extremely proud of the career I had.”

McCown has done analyst work for ESPN and wrote that he plans to do more of that, as well as coach his two sons, who are high school quarterbacks.

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