Chris Long says he's proud of Luke Kuechly for hanging up his cleats early ... telling TMZ Sports the NFL is "a dangerous game."
"People got families," the former Eagles and Patriots Super Bowl champ says. "Good for him."
Kuechly, at just 28 years old, announced his retirement earlier this week ... and a lot of people are questioning whether it was the right call given what he's got left in the tank.
“In my heart, I know it’s the right thing to do.” pic.twitter.com/mSDyJ0iEMw
— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) January 15, 2020
But, when we got Long out in D.C., he told us he's all for the move ... saying Kuechly -- who's battled head injuries throughout his career -- really has no reason to keep putting his body in jeopardy.
"I think guys are more financially capable to make that decision now," Long says.
"Where back in the day, you'd have to play 15 years to take care of your family, you don't have to do that anymore."
In fact, Long says he thinks retiring before 30 might become commonplace in the NFL ... telling us, "I think it might be a trend to watch."