Jensen retires: A look back on the mid laner’s storied career

Nicolaj ‘Jensen’ Jensen has officially retired from professional League of Legends after over a decade of competitive play.

The Danish mid laner, known for his sharp mechanics and consistent performances, leaves behind a legacy built across some of North America’s top teams.

Jensen announced his retirement in August 2025 through a video posted to social media. “I feel like I’ve experienced everything I needed to and I’ve had my fun” he said, expressing the desire to explore life outside the constraints of a professional schedule.

Jensen’s retirement closes one of the most iconic careers in NA League of Legends history as one of the few players consistently relevant both domestically and internationally for nearly a decade. 

Jensen first set his sights on a professional career in 2012, hoping to earn a spot in the EU LCS.

Known then as Incarnati0n, he was temporarily banned from competitive play in 2013 due to in-game behaviour violations, yet he remained close to the scene, and in 2014, he served as a coach for SK Gaming. Disciplinary actions earlier in his career slowed down his growth as a player, but did not stop it.

After his suspension was officially lifted in 2015, he sailed overseas and joined Cloud9, marking the beginning of what would become one of the most significant careers in North American League of Legends history.

It didn’t even take long for Jensen to make an impact in NA. He replaced Hai ‘Hai‘ Du Lam as Cloud9’s mid laner just before the 2015 Summer Split. Despite early struggles, he helped C9 qualify for Worlds 2015 — the first of eight consecutive appearances for the player.

During the first three years at C9, Jensen was consistently among the best mid laners in the region. He earned multiple All-Pro First Team appearances, was praised for his laning dominance and became a key part of C9’s international identity. In 2016 and 2017, the team reached Worlds’ quarter-finals and the following year shocked fans by advancing to the semi-finals — marking the first time a North American team reached the top four at Worlds since League of Legends’ first competitive season.  

Despite this international success, domestic titles eluded Jensen during those years. That changed in late 2018 when he joined Team Liquid.

In 2019, Jensen won both LEC Spring and Summer Splits with Team Liquid. The team also reached the MSI Finals, upsetting Invictus Gaming in the semi-finals before falling to G2 Esports in the Grand Final. Despite going home without the trophy, that MSI was one of NA’s most successful international runs. However, his Worlds performances with Team Liquid in 2019 and 2020 did not meet expectations, ending in early exits.

Jensen remained with Team Liquid through 2021 but was eventually replaced by long-time rival Søren ‘Bjergsen‘ Bjerg. In 2022, he returned to Cloud9 in what would become a redemptive arc, winning the LCS Championship that summer — his third domestic title and first with Cloud9.

After the 2022 season, Jensen joined Dignitas, but the team failed to make LCS playoffs. For the first time in his NA career, he did not attend Worlds. Hoping to reignite his career, he signed with FlyQuest in 2024, reached the Spring Finals and attended MSI, but lost in the play-in stage to PSG Talon.

He was soon benched and returned to Dignitas for one final Tier 1 split.

In early 2025, he made a brief appearance in the NACL with the streamer-led team Near Airport, but did not return to pro-level play.

Jensen’s career was built on stability, skill and long-term impact. He became a staple in the LCS and maintained a high level of play across multiple teams, metas and seasons. He competed for titles, played in high-stakes international matches, and helped define what it meant to be a top-tier mid laner in North America.

While his final seasons brought fewer results and more roster changes, his reputation as a steady and elite presence remained intact. 

Few mid laners have done more for North America’s League of Legends — especially on the international stage. Whether or not Jensen returns in a coaching, casting, or support role remains to be seen. But for now, he steps away as one of the region’s all-time iconic players.