30 Surprising Things Fans Probably Didn’t Know About Eagles’ Fletcher Cox

Fletcher Cox, the American football defensive tackle for the Philadelphia Eagles of the National Football League (NFL), was born on December 13, 1990, in Cicero, Illinois. Here are 30 interesting facts about the footballer:

1. Cox ranks at #4 among all the NFL defensive tackles with 16.0 sacks since 2015, only after Geno Atkins, Aaron Donald and Kawann Short with 20.0, 19.0 and 17.0 sacks respectively.
2. In the year 2012, he was named to PFWA’s All-Rookie team, after tying for the team lead with 5.5 sacks. With this, he also tied for the 3rd-most sacks ever by an Eagles rookie, only behind Corey Simon and Derrick Burgess with a total of 9.5 sacks in 2000 and 6.0 sacks in 2001, respectively.
3. In the 2012 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles traded up three spots from the 15th selection to pick Cox 12th overall selection.
4. He has a passion for fixing up old cars and even claims that he would have most likely been a mechanic, if he wasn't playing football.
5. While at Yazoo City High School, he was credited with a 4.47 time in the 40-yard dash, and also benched 300 lb. As a part of the Yazoo High track & field team, he had personal-best times of 44.32 seconds in the 4 × 100m relay and 1:32.63 minutes in the 4 × 200m relay.
6. He finished the 2015 season with a total of 71 tackles, 9.5 sacks, 2 passes defended and 3 forced fumbles, which earned him the Second-team All-Pro honors and the selection to Pro Bowl for the first time.
7. He claims his late older brother Shaddrick Cox, to have been the biggest influence on his life as well as career. Shaddrick, who was actually like a father figure to Cox, passed away due to heart attack during the 2015 offseason.
8. His 3.0 sacks vs NO on October 11, 2015, was not only a career high, but also earned him his first-career “NFC Defensive Player of the Week” honors. His 2 FFs in the game resulted in 9 points.
9. He is highest selected Mississippi State Bulldog since Michael Haddix in 1983, as well as the highest selected Bulldog defensive lineman since Jimmy Webb in 1975.
10. On September 7, 2014, he sealed the victory vs Jax, when he scored his first TD of his career on a 17-yard fumble return.
11. His mom Melissa Cox initially did not like him playing football and was not going to let him play when he was in eighth grade. However, when his coach Kyle Wallace, got to know he wanted to play football, Wallace kind of forced his mother to let him play.
12. He was voted to the Pro Bowl for the second time in his career, after he tied for the 5th-most sacks, with a total of 6.5 sacks, by an NFL defensive tackle in the year 2016, trailing after Geno Atkins, Aaron Donald, Gerald McCoy and Leonard Williams, with a total of 9.0, 8.0, 7.0, and 7.0 sacks respectively.
13. In the year 2011, as a junior, Cox was named an All-American by Pro Football Weekly with a total of total tackles, including 11 quarterback sacks and two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.
14. He became the first Eagle ever and first NFL player since 2007 to record 3.0 sacks, 2 FFs and 1 FR in a single game vs NO on October 11, 2015.
15. He was once ejected as a rookie, after throwing punches against Detroit Lions players on October 14, 2012, and even faced a fine of $21,000.
16. During his college career, National Recruiting web site Rivals.com rated him as the No. 2 prospect in the state of Mississippi, as well as the No. 5 weak side defensive end in the country, making him a four-star recruit.
17. In September 2016, Cox was named "NFC Defensive Player of the Month" after totaling 3.0 sacks and 1 FF in three contests.
18. He owns a drag racing team that competes in professional events around the country. The team uses a 1991 Ford Mustang drag redial, driven by Shawn Ayers.
19. During his time in the Yazoo City High School, he even played basketball and was also on the Yazoo High track & field team in which he participated as the second leg of the 4 x 100 meter team.
20. Cox ranks at #5 in the all-time among Eagles interior defensive linemen with a total of 28.5 career sacks, behind Andy Harmon (39.5 from 1991-97), Ken Clarke (32.5 from 1978-87), Corey Simon (32.0 from 2000-04) and Jerome Brown (29.5 from 1987-91).
21. Throughout his three-year career at the Mississippi State, he finished around 3 games with a total of 114 tackles (53 solo), 24.5 TFL and 8.5 sacks, and also blocked 5 FG attempts.
22. He signed a six-year, $103 million extension with the Eagles on June 13, 2016, with $63 million guaranteed. This led to his second consecutive Pro Bowl.
23. In the 2014 season, he acquired 61 tackles, 4.0 sacks, 1 forced fumble, 3 fumble recoveries and 5 run stuffs in 16 games.
24. His performance in the 2015 season ranked him at #49 in the 2016 list of "NFL Top 100 Players," and also earned him the Ed Block Courage Award.
25. It was reported that following his graduation from Yazoo City High School, he was offered scholarships from LSU Tigers football from Louisiana State University, Alabama Crimson Tide football from University of Alabama, Auburn Tigers football from Auburn University, Ole Miss Rebels football from University of Mississippi. However, he chose to attend the Mississippi State University.
26. He posted 1.5 sacks, four total tackles and several knockdowns of Redskins Quarterback Kirk Cousins in the game versus Was., on December 11, 2016, which marked his fifth-career multi-sack game.
27. He became the ninth player since 1982 to record a sack on opening day in at least four of his first five NFL seasons, with a sack of Browns quarterback Robert Griffin III vs. Cle., on September 11, 2016.
28. He reportedly sacked Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger twice and also forced him to fumble once as a part of an 8-tackle effort vs. Pit., on September 25, 2016.
29. He attended Yazoo City High School in Yazoo City, Mississippi, where he recorded 104 tackles, including 10 quarterback sacks, and also added one interception and a fumble recovery as a senior.
30. In the year 2009, Cox played in all 12 games (four starts) during his true freshman season, earning Freshman All-SEC honors with a total of 29 tackles (17 solo) and 3.5 TFL.
31. Fletcher Cox Net Worth: $30 Million