Chris Borland is quitting the San Francisco 49ers' football team. What is unusual about his decision is that he is only 24, had a great rookie season last year, is in good health, and is walking away from a career worth millions of dollars because he wants to stay in good health.
Borland is not the only pro football player who is quitting his football career early. Patrick Willis, also of the 49ers and a seven-time All-Pro linebacker, is also quitting the sport because he does not want to risk further injuries. Jason Worilds, Jake Locker, and Cortland Finnegan are also quitting the game relatively young.
But only Borland says his decision is directly connected to the risk of a traumatic brain injury from the concussions that occur in a rough sport. "From what I've researched and what I've experienced, I don't think it's worth the risk," Borland told ESPN, referring to the fact that he has had multiple concussions during his years of playing high school, college, and professional football.
Last year Borland suffered a concussion in training camp, but covered it up so that he could win a spot on the 49ers.
"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?'" Borland said in an interview on ESPN's "Outside the Lines."
The evidence that repeated concussions can cause irreversible brain damage (traumatic encephalopathy) that impairs cognitive function has been accumulating for the past several years. Autopsies on 79 former pro football players found that 76 had signs of degenerative brain trauma. The National Football League has disputed this evidence, but also has changed rules to try to prevent the worst blows to the head.
Several professional football players have expressed support for Borland's decision in social media. This reaction came as a surprise to many because football is a macho sport that players traditionally did not leave until they could no longer play on the top level.