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Pro Bowl offensive tackle Charles Leno Jr has announced his retirement from the NFL two years to the minute that he and his wife tragically lost their baby daughter.
Leno, who enjoyed seven seasons with the Chicago Bears before a three-year spell in Washington, took to Instagram to share the news on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old has brought the curtain down on his career exactly two years on from his wife Jen's devastating miscarriage, which he described as 'the most unimaginable heartbreak.'
Following the death of Paitynn Maui Leno - who would have been their fourth daughter - Leno admits his heart left the game of football and has never returned.
As a result, at 2:46pm CDT on October 14, 2025, he officially walked away from the NFL on the very day and minute they lost Paitynn two years ago.
'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,' Leno said in his retirement message.
'Football has given me so much. It gave me the platform to grow, to lead, to overcome. It took me from being a kid with a dream to a man standing here today, proud of what I've accomplished.
'From being drafted in the seventh round at pick 246, to becoming a starting left tackle for two incredible teams. From giving it my all every Sunday to walking off the field with nothing left in the tank, I'm proud of that. I'm proud of my journey.'
