The Chargers are relocating to Los Angeles, but King Dunlap won’t be along for the ride. The 31-year-old left tackle who was scheduled to earn just under $6 million in 2017 decided to call it a career on Monday after being released by the team on March 13.
Former Chargers LT King Dunlap retires from NFL after 9-year career
Dunlap couldn’t stay healthy over the last two seasons with the Chargers.
Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
Dunlap signed a two-year deal with the Chargers in 2013. In 2014, he started all 16 games and was recognized as the team’s lineman of the year. Because of Dunlap’s solid season in 2014, the Chargers signed him to a four-year, $28 million deal in 2015.
Durability was an issue for Dunlap for the past two seasons. He only appeared in 19 games since he singed that long-term deal. When healthy, Dunlap played well at left tackle and kept defenders from getting pressure on quarterback Philip Rivers.
His health issues date back to when the Philadelphia Eagles selected him in the seventh round of the 2008 NFL draft. Dunlap missed his entire rookie season due to an ankle injury. He spent his first five seasons in the league with the Eagles before signing with the Chargers in 2013.
Dunlap would have been 32 next season. Los Angeles made it clear they did not want to pay a lot of money to an aging left tackle with health issues upon releasing him.
Now, he’s decided to hang it up entirely.
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