Chris Borland, a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers who has only been in the NFL for one season, has quit, citing fears about long-term effects to his health.
The 24-year-old graduate of the University of Wisconsin said he notified the 49ers organization on Friday after discussing the decision, which he said was ultimately "simple," with family and medical professionals, according to ESPN's Outside the Lines.
"I just honestly want to do what's best for my health," he told ESPN on Monday. "From what I've researched and what I've experienced, I don't think it's worth the risk."
Borland's departure comes quickly on the heels of Patrick Willis', another 49er's linebacker who retired last week after eight years with the team.
Willis, too, cited injuries as a motivating factor: He hadn't played for six games due to a toe injury. “If I had anything left in these feet — you’ve all seen me, I broke my hand on a Sunday, had surgery on a Monday and played with a cast on Thursday — but it’s something about these feet. When you don’t have feet, for me, that’s what has made me who I am,” he told NBC Sports.
So P. Willis and Chris Borland? They know something that we don’t?— Brandon Marshall (@BMarshh54) March 17, 2015
Borland was more explicit regarding his concerns about brain injury, telling ESPN that his thoughts about quitting arose during training camp and were not influenced by Willis' exit from the team. "I just thought to myself, 'What am I doing? Is this how I'm going to live my adult life, banging my head, especially with what I've learned and knew about the dangers?'"
Players leaving lucrative NFL contracts is becoming less surprising in a league that has been tarnished in recent years with players' suicides, brain injury and drug lawsuits, and high-profile incidents of domestic violence.
GM Trent Baalke on Chris Borland: "We will always consider him a 49er and wish him all the best.” http://t.co/Ylp3pgorgr— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) March 17, 2015
Willis' and Borland's exits brings the total number of players who have left the league in the last week to four: players from the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Tennessee Titans have also jettisoned their jobs with the NFL. They were all aged 30 or under.