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Chris Borland retired form the NFL after 1 year due to concerns of head injury. But the move created much more chaos than he ever intended.
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Key Sources:
https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/13463272/how-former-san-francisco-49ers-chris-borland-retirement-change-nfl-forever
https://theathletic.com/4313909/2023/03/17/chris-borland-byus-media-wisconsin-football/
https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/schools/wisconsin/2011.html
https://www.sbnation.com/2015/8/20/9183121/chris-borland-concussions-nfl-retirement-profile
35 Comments
Yet another amazing episode that sheds light on the way people use all of their life experience to move the world in a hopefully positive direction.
His Dad, Al Borland, knew everything there was to know about concussions. After all, he was Tim’s Tool Time assistant and Tim went through an assortment of head injuries during their time on the show. I’m not surprised, as his son, he was ahead of his time knowing the effects head injuries can have on people.
Dam that quote at the end !
Love how you present your videos. Keep up thr good work!
Tackle Machine
As a WI Badgers fan I was so excited to see this dude have an amazing NFL career. At least we still got TJ representing.
I’d been holding off on watching this one. As a sophomore in HS I suffered a neck injury that has haunted me ever since and will only get worse. As much as I love football and the NFL there’s no denying the heaps of controversy that surrounds it, and almost all of that has its foundations in what happens to a person’s brain as they play. I am, sadly enough, one of those people who does think “If I could do it all again knowing what I know now I think I could have gone pro” but simultaneously I think “If I could do it all again knowing what I know now, I’d be one helluva bassist.” Cuz the real damage done to pro athletes of all sports is phenomenal. But football (and a few other obvious sports and the non-obvious one of women’s soccer) lead the pack in destruction. I, for one, will never forget Chris Borland. His story speaks to me on different level. Much like Jim McMahon, because he and I suffer from the same neck/brain stem condition.
49ers had a couple early retires
He did the right thing for his long term health. I quit football "tailback" because I was worried about my knees. I still regret it terribly. I'm 50 now and I'm pain free. I never got injured and was fortunate. I'm not sure if I did the right thing but I feel good and healthy. I'll never know what could've happened but it is what it is.
The opinion of football wouldn't change as much as people feared. Yes, the opinion could change and people would choose to stop playing for personal safety, but for everyone that decides to quit early, there would be plenty willing to take their place because of what it can do for them. It's like that with any dangerous pro sport.
I honestly had no issues with him retiring early, i thought it was weird at first because he had no previous serious injury to lead to the decision, but his reasoning made sense.
Thank you for doing this video man amazing video! as a niners fan i definitely remember every part of his nfl career he was a beast early on in camp and of course ended up being one. As a 13–14 year old football player then, his story really did make me more aware of what i was doing to my body on the field especially as a lineman. appreciate borland for being so real about his problems and spreading awareness. 🔥🔥🔥amazing work bro
his 13 tackle game w 2 pics was legendary man .. i still remember that game in new orleans 🔥🔥him and kap won us that game man. god bless both those dudes
I got 6 concussions all before 18.
If you leave due to not wanting permanent damage, smart!
Good choice.
I lose memories every day. I was crying last night because I couldn't remember what I literally JUST bought from the store. I'm only 32. That's dementia shit!
I was once a borderline genius. Probably why it's so devastating now. NEVER let someone push you into hurting yourself.
It's not worth it
This is why you should be able to get drafted early in football
I played since I was super young never got concused but definitely did riding miles and skateboarding
This is wat they mean by behind the scenes of the nba and nfl is crazy
Another loss for the Niners but morally I can't be upset with Chris's decision
This guy was so promising. He was really good
True definition of RKO out-of no where
It was probably more of failing a ped test imo
Chris was a great football player. I admire his courage to walk away from the sport he loved 🫡
When the 49ers lb's quiet after they lost the big games 😅
He was a stud, he would’ve been a perennial all pro. It took a lot of courage for him to walk away.
Wow! Great story. Thanks for sharing.
He's a hero for his own life.. Takes alot to walk away from a dream…. God still has a plan.. He cares about his future and his life and anyone who doesn't respect that doesn't care about their life. The end.
As a life long 49ers fan i was immediately calling him a pussy which was more of me just being sad that the team lost a great player and basically an emotional response but after a few days i said its his life and wished him the best. Hes a big boy hes knows what hes doing. Didnt he graduate with a degree because he had thought of the injuries and wanted something to fall back on, maybe i got the head injuries and it wasnt him or i missed it in the video 😂
yea he hit everything
as a 49ers fan, his retirement sucked. He was a beast in his rookie and his retirement was shocking as it was it was also a part of the worst offseason in team history. he walked away of what would have been a big contract extension. what would have been if he played.
You can have a better heading then “scared to tackle” just for clicks that’s what bra
All the time i wonder why people work like that then to get to the all time high then they quit ! Who cares about living to 80 plus. Live like a kind til 60 or average til 80 plus give me the kings life
Watching Chris as a Niner fan at that time was more than him just being good, it was a glimmer of hope for the future when the team was going through turmoil. I was so happy to see him succeed and so sad to see him leave, but later thought of him as a pioneer for football safety
Yeah, you have to be a little off in the head to play football.
Man couldnt play football until 14 and still made it to the league! What a unit!
4.8 considered slow. Respect
Luke Keuchly would have been a great follow up. As a Panther fan I fear for Luke in the future and hope he stepped away in enough time. It hurt seeing him retire BUT he looked out for himself. The man was on his way to be the 🐐