Pro Bowl left tackle Charles Leno Jr. has opened up about the heartbreaking reason behind his decision to retire from the NFL.
The former Chicago Bears and Washington Commanders offensive lineman officially announced his retirement on Tuesday. He shared the news on Instagram at exactly 2:46 p.m., which he revealed in the post represented the exact time he had found out about some tragic news, two years ago to the day.
Leno’s wife, Jennifer, miscarried their fourth daughter on October 14, 2023. Leno explained how that day “changed everything” about how he viewed life.
“On October 14, 2023, my wife Jennifer and I experienced the most unimaginable heartbreak. We lost our precious daughter, Paitynn–our fourth baby girl. That day changed everything for me. It changed the way I see life, the way I carry myself, and most of all, it changed what matters most to me.
“…on that October day in 2023, something in me shifted. I knew then that I was done with football. Not physically, but mentally and emotionally. My priority, my passion, my purpose had changed. My heart now belongs fully to my family. And I knew on day, when the time was right, I’d make it official.”
Leno, who was playing for the Commanders during the 2023 season, got the news while he was in Atlanta ahead of his team’s Week 6 game against the Falcons. He did not play in the contest. Leno played out the rest of the season, but was released by Washington the following offseason and has not played since.
The Bears selected Leno in the seventh round of the 2014 NFL Draft. The Boise State alum spent his first seven seasons in Chicago, earning himself his only Pro Bowl nod in 2018.
The 2018 season was also special for Leno off the field. Devoted Bears fans may remember Leno proposing to his then-girlfriend after helping Chicago beat the Green Bay Packers. Leno famously claimed he had it all planned out because he knew the Bears were going to win.
Leno played in 149 games (141 starts) across his decade-long NFL career.
