Rookie Linebacker, Chris Borland, Retires Over Fear of Brain Trauma
Chris Borland, a promising rookie linebacker with the San Francisco 49ers, retired after one year of a four-year contact because the possibility of brain disease wasn’t “worth the risk.” (Full story 1; story and video 2)
There is a growing body of evidence that repeated head trauma can lead to neurological problems and premature death. A NewsBit on this blog reported that a University of Tulsa study revealed changes to the brains of football players, even in the absence of a documented concussion. Last season, an Ohio State University football player apparently committed suicide. Concussions may have had a role in his death. The National Football League (NFL), the premier professional football organization in the United States, is in the middle of a multimillion-dollar lawsuit over concussions and neurological problems.
Chris Borland gave careful thought to his early and unexpected retirement. He talked with family, friends, teammates, and brain researchers before making his decision to retire from a game he was good at. He said the game is inherently dangerous, which is not necessarily a bad thing, but a player should make an informed decision. Borland also said, “There’s just too much unknown for me, and there have been too many tragedies for me to be comfortable playing…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.” He was asked about walking away from probable wealth. Borland answered that no amount of money could take the place of being there for his family. (Full story 3)
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Comments on: "SPEAK OUT! NewsBit . . . . . . . . . . Chris Borland – Rookie Linebacker Retires Over Fear of Brain Trauma" (2)
[…] follows other early retirements, most notably that of San Francisco 49er star rookie linebacker, Chris Borland, who cited the high risk of brain disease as his reason for retiring after playing only one year. […]
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[…] worse, assured by the league that there is minimal risk. [Some players have quit or retired early (1, 2). Recently, a class-action lawsuit about concussions brought by former players against the NFL […]
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