Former Carolina Panthers linebacker Luke Kuechly is set to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio, on Saturday. Kuechly had a legendary NFL career spanning eight years with the Panthers, but he decided to retire in 2020 due to the effects of a series of concussions.
Is Luke Kuechly Married?
Kuechly started dating Shannon Reilly in 2012, the same year he was drafted into the NFL out of Boston College. At the time, Reilly studied at the University of Cincinnati. Their relationship status is unclear, but in 2020, the former Panthers linebacker mentioned Reilly as his girlfriend during his retirement speech.
“I want to thank my family. My mom and my dad, Eileen and Tom Kuechly,” he said. “My two brothers, John and Henry. My girlfriend, Shannon. They’ve been with me since the beginning. They’ve been very supportive, and I’m happy to share this journey with them.”
Reilly played lacrosse growing up and field hockey in high school. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) and a Minor in Chemistry, Biology/Biological Sciences, General from the University of Cincinnati, and a master’s in physician assistant studies from Gardner-Webb University. According to her LinkedIn profile, she is a physician assistant working with Mayfield Brain & Spine.
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Why Did Kuechly Retire Early?
After eight seasons in the league and at the prime of his career, Kuechly announced his retirement in 2020. The linebacker suffered at least three known concussions between 2015 and 2017, causing him to miss 10 games.
During a segment of the “Bussin’ With The Boys” podcast last year, Kuechly explained his sudden retirement at the peak of his career.
“You know, you used to just go smack dudes and have no issues. I would go hit a guy, and I’m like, ‘That didn’t really feel great,'” Kuechly said. “I just remember after that game (last game of the year), I was like, ‘Yeah, you don’t got it anymore.'”
In 2013, Kuechly joined Lawrence Taylor as the only players to have won the NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year and the NFL Defensive Player of the Year in successive seasons. During his illustrious eight-year NFL career, Kuechly earned seven Pro Bowl nods, five first-team All-Pro, and two second-team All-Pro selections.
The legendary Panthers icon also won the NFL’s Butkus Award as the league’s top linebacker three times (2014, 2015, 2017), in addition to winning the college Butkus Award as a Boston College junior in 2011.
