Chargers' Corey Linsley: '99%' Chance I'll Retire from NFL Due to Heart Issue

Los Angeles Chargers center Corey Linsley told reporters on Monday there's a "99 percent" chance he would be retiring from football this offseason due to a non-emergent heart issue that kept him sidelined for the final 14 games of the 2023 season.

He added that he would undergo further testing in March before making a final decision.

The Chargers placed Linsley on injured reserve back in late September, though his heart issue didn't require emergency treatment.

It was a big loss—the 32-year-old was a Pro Bowler and second-team All-Pro selection in 2021 and had played 13 or more games in eight of his nine NFL seasons heading into 2023, providing the Chargers with stability on the interior of their offensive line.

"Any time you have a star player—one of the top players at his position—[out], it's going to have an impact," former head coach Brandon Staley told reporters in December.

Linsley, who spent his first seven seasons in the NFL on the Green Bay Packers, was a first-team All-Pro selection in the 2020 campaign. That earned him a five-year, $62.5 million deal with the Chargers in free agency.

Will Clapp replaced Linsley at center, but the team's offensive line was an issue for much of the 2023 season. The team ranked just 25th in rushing offense (96.6 YPG)

The Chargers head into the offseason with plenty of uncertainty, most prominently at head coach. They'll also be one of the most intriguing openings available, in large part due to franchise quarterback Justin Herbert.

But protecting the young star is the top priority, which means either through free agency or the draft, bolstering the offensive line—and namely the center position—will be key.