49ers Coach Announces Surprise Retirement, Leaving Team in Limbo

49ers Coach Announces Surprise Retirement, Leaving Team in Limbo

Concerns about possible brain injuries prompted Chris Borland to end his NFL career after just one season in which he rose to stardom with the San Francisco 49ersand#039; praised the defense.

Borland, 24, said, andquot;I honestly want to do what’s best for my health.andquot;Saying he consulted with other players, medical experts and his family, Borland stated “From what I’ve researched and what I’ve experienced, I don’t think so, and #039; s worth the risk.andquot;He added andquot;I feel almost the same, as sharp as ever. For me, it means being proactive. … My concern is that if you wait until you have symptoms, it’s too late.andquot;Borland got 49ersand#039; starting lineup last season after Pro Bowl linebacker Patrick Willis was sidelined with a long toe injury. Borland thrived in that role and led the team in tackles.

 

But when he announced his decision to leave on ESPN’s Outside the Lines, he said he felt the possibility of permanent injury was too great.andquot;I thought about what I could achieve in football,andquot; he said, adding that to be the player I want to be in football, I have to take risks that I don’t want to take as a person. andquot;Listed at 5-foot-11 and 248 pounds, Borland was drafted by the 49ers in the third round out of Wisconsin.

He says he hasn’t been diagnosed with a concussion in the NFL, but has had two in the past: one playing football in eighth grade and another playing football in high school.In recent years, concussion-related brain injuries have become a constant concern in professional football. Such injuries were central to a 2013 $765 million settlement between the NFL and more than 4,500 players.

Also in 2013, the book League of Denial provided new details about the extent and impact of chronic traumatic encephalopathy. or CTE, a disease associated with repetitive head trauma. Autopsies have shown that dozens of former NFL players suffered from the condition.

The 49ers say that while Borland’s news is surprising, they accept and respect his decision.andquot;Talking with Kris it was clear that he thought a lot about that decision andquot; said 49ers general manager Trent Baalke. andquot;He was a consummate professional from the start and a highly valued member of our team and community. Chris is a determined young man who overcame long odds on his way to the NFL, and we’re sure he’ll use the same approach to do well in his future endeavors.

We will always consider him 49 and wish him well.andquot;The departure of Borlandand#039; is the latest change for the 49ers. The player he replaced last season, Patrick Willis, announced his retirement last week at the age of 30. And in December, the team parted ways with coach Jim Harbaugh, who now works at the University of Michigan..