NFL Rookie Retires: Connor Halliday Leaves Washington Redskins Before Training Camp Starts
A rookie retired from the Washington Redskins before his first mini-camp. The Washington Post reported that Connor Halliday quit the NFL by calling up the coach and leaving a voicemail saying he was heading back home.
The would-be NFL quarterback rookie retired despite an opening left for him by the Redskins coaching staff. He was a star player with Washington State University, but ended the season in November with a broken leg, leaving him few options for NFL teams looking to draft players. The Redskins still decided to take a chance on him as a free agent. But now, the rookie retired abruptly.
#Skins coach Jay Gruden had no explanation for UFA QB Connor Halliday bailing on eve of rookie camp. The WSU QB left voicemail & left
— Liz Clarke (@lizclarketweet) May 16, 2015
Halliday has yet to reveal his reasons for leaving, but as reported in Forbes, it could reflect the trend of a young player who retires due to potential health reasons.
Chris Borland had an incredible rookie season before he retired at age 24 from the San Francisco 49ers. He told ESPN what went through his head at the time.
“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 know about the dangers?”
We have yet to learn if Halliday is also thinking of the very prominent brain trauma dangers of football as he retires. Maybe the leg injury he sustained had his thoughts going towards more serious future injuries as an NFL rookie.
There’s been a slew of players retiring for a variety of reasons lately. ESPN shares some of the reasons why these men choose to walk away from NFL fame.
“Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker Jason Worilds, 27, said he retired ‘after much thought and consideration’ to pursue ‘other interests.’ Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker, 26, said he left the game because he no longer had ‘the burning desire necessary to play the game for a living.’ Willis said he retired because of constant pain in his feet, among other reasons.”
Forbes raises the issue of how every player that retires young impacts the whole of the sport’s popularity. If players fear the potential for injury, then they won’t wait until rookie season to decide not to play. When a young kid looks at the impact of a career in the NFL, he won’t wait until he retires to figure it out.
Halliday retired, perhaps knowing the toll a career in the NFL could have on him. He’s seen a preview of it even before rookie season began. And so, the rookie retired, seemingly wanting none of it.
[Photo by Otto Greule Jr / Getty Images]
