24-year-old NFL player walks away from game, says concussions aren't 'worth the risk'
Former Big Ten defensive player of the year and San Francisco 49ers All-Rookie linebacker Chris Borland officially retired after one season in the NFL on Monday.
In response to the news Tuesday morning, Packers director of player personnel Eliot Wolf had a message via Twitter for those wondering if this is a landmark offseason for professional football.
"Anyone worried about the future of football should see the amount of calls & emails we get from kids literally begging to get into pro days," Wolf (@eliotwolf46) wrote Tuesday morning.
The 24-year-old Borland said in an exclusive ESPN interview that head-injury risks weren't worth the money he was sacrificing by walking away from a contract that would have paid him more than US$2 million over four years, including $547,000 in 2015. He made more than US$1 million in 2014, largely as a fill-in for inside linebacker Patrick Willis. Willis retired earlier this month after seven Pro Bowl appearances in eight seasons at age 29.
"I just honestly want to do what's best for my health," said Borland, who is 5-foot-11, 248 pounds. "From what I've researched and what I've experienced, I don't think it's worth the risk.
"I feel largely the same, as sharp as I've ever been. For me, it's wanting to be proactive. I'm concerned that if you wait till you have symptoms, it's too late. ... There are a lot of unknowns. I can't claim that X will happen. I just want to live a long, healthy life, and I don't want to have any neurological diseases or die younger than I would otherwise."
Wolf, 32, is the son of recently inducted Hall of Fame general manager Ron Wolf. Eliot Wolf was promoted to director of player personnel on Jan. 2. His tweet reflects the majority opinion in the NFL, according to former player agent turned Packers capologist Andrew Brandt of ESPN and TheMMQB.com. Brandt said Tuesday that "99 per cent" of players have told him they would do it all over again when they ultimately retire. Brandt is also the director of the Moorad Center for Sports Law at Villanova.
Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker announced his retirement at age 26 earlier this month and Pittsburgh Steelers outside linebacker Jason Worilds called it quits at 27. Both were free agents, and Worilds made more than US$7 million with the Steelers in 2014. He was expected to sign a long-term deal in free agency.
Players were mostly supportive of Borland's decision but also echoed the sentiments of Wolf and Brandt.
"WOW. I loved Chris Borland's game but I can't fault him for calling it quits," defensive end Chris Long of the St. Louis Rams wrote on Twitter. "His concerns are real. Still it takes a man to do the logical."
Long continued: "I don't feel bad for Borland. I feel happy for him. He's made a tough choice."
Another NFC West division defender took another angle.
"No offense to anyone but I'm playing until I can't anymore," Seahawks linebacker Bobby Wagner wrote on Twitter. "I love this game to (sic) much."
One of Wolf's former players, tight end Tom Crabtree, shared the other side of the decision.
"It scares the (expletive) out of me when i can't recall a name or forget where i put my keys as we all do. But thoughts of CTE always creep in," he wrote via Twitter.
