Football player calls it quits over health concerns
San Francisco 49ers player Chris Borland, a leading rookie last season, is retiring from the NFL over health concerns related to repeated head trauma, ESPN and the team said.
"While unexpected, we certainly respect Chris’ decision," 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement.
"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," Borland told ESPN.
Head trauma is an issue that has rattled the league and prompted a massive lawsuit against the NFL.
A class-action lawsuit involving thousands of former players, filed in 2012, contended that the league hid the dangers of brain injury among players while profiting from the sport’s violent physical contact. There have been suicides in recent years by former NFL players.
In February, a U.S. judge refused to accept a proposed settlement between the NFL and the players, saying payment should be expanded for some players and families among other concerns.
