San Fransisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland announced his retirement from the NFL this week, citing concerns over brain trauma and long-term health issues. The 24-year old former third-round pick had an impressive rookie reason with the Niners, recording 84 tackles in 14 games, but has decided to call it quits after just one pro season.
Here’s what Borland had to say, via ESPN:
“I just honestly want to do what’s best for my health,” Borland said. “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.”
At this point, there’s really no arguing that a long career in the NFL carries the risk of some very serious and very scary long-term health problems. A lot of guys are willing to accept such risks because of how much they love the game, but others – such as Borland and Patrick Willis, who retired at age 30 last month – have decided there are more important things in life and it’s just not worth it. That seems like an easy decision to respect, right?
However, a few of the NFL media’s biggest names, along with Twitter trolls, have used Borland’s decision to go to bat for the league. Here’s what Adam Schefter and Mike Florio had to say on Tuesday morning:
Chris Borland was scheduled to make $530K this year, plus $10K workout bonus. Not many jobs pay 24-year-olds $540K for 6 months of work.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 17, 2015
Americans routinely assume far greater physical risks for far less money and fame than the risk/reward of playing in the NFL.
— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) March 17, 2015
Money seems like the wrong thing to be talking about here, no? “Yes, there’s a significant chance your brain will be turned into mashed potatoes…but look at how rich you’ll be when you die!”
Never one to let up, Florio doubled-down when called out by SB Nation editor and military veteran Matt Ufford.
Must get tiring carrying all that water.
The point here is…if a 24-year-old kid wants to quit his job – no matter what the occupation – because he fears that it may adversely affect his long-term health and/or cut his life short, who has the right to question that decision? The answer is nobody, because it’s his life and wellbeing potentially on the line.
