Trent Cole played 12 seasons in the NFL. He piled up 90 1/2 career sacks and 85 1/2 with the Eagles, placing him second on the franchise's all-time list behind some guy named Reggie White.
That was nothing.
"I think I work harder now than when I played football," said Cole, who in addition to his outdoors show "Blitz TV" has become a grain farmer in South Jersey. "I can really say that. But it's love. I get up every day, every morning and I have something to look forward to. I'm looking forward to the next day to get up and go to the farm with a cup of coffee and get to work."
Cole's second career has begun now that his first career is over. Cole, 35, officially retired as a member of the Eagles Monday night at the Linc. He also served as an honorary captain before the Christmas night game against the Raiders.
Cole, who played for the Colts the last two years, said he had opportunities to play football again this year. But the time away from the game after the 2016 season, made him ready for his life after football. In addition to his busy schedule with his show and farming, he has a young daughter at home and one more on the way in May.
"It was just that time," Cole said. "A lot of people don't get the chance to do this. Some people do. I'm just very thankful to have the opportunity. Thank Mr. (Jeffery) Lurie and the Eagles' organization for allowing me to come back to go out like this. There's no better feeling than to come out here on Christmas Day and Christmas night and Monday Night Football, with the Eagles having a great season and end my career and start a new one."
When asked how he went from being a fifth-round pick to second on the Eagles' all-time sacks leaderboard, Cole humbly thanked his teammates and the Eagles' front office for surrounding him with other good players.
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When asked for a highlight of his career, he eventually said the comeback wins the team earned while he played in Philly, but not before he mentioned that he doesn't have any trophies displayed in his South Jersey home. While Monday night was a chance for him to remember and be remembered, he's more about looking forward.
He's no less passionate about his new careers than he was as a defensive end piling up sacks for a decade with the Eagles. Instead of sacking quarterbacks, he's tackling soybeans, corn, hay and straw on about 1,200 acres that he owns or leases.
"I had that drive," he said. "I had to do my part as a teammate and make sure I left everything out on the field. Everyone knows that I was going to give everything I had. That's just the way I was. I was going to give 110 percent. I refused to lose. I wanted to win. I had that drive, I just can't explain to you. I had that fire.
"And that fire will never go out. I'll never be satisfied. To the day I die, I'll never be satisfied."
