Tony Scheffler Announces NFL Retirement

Tony Scheffler is retiring from the National Football League.

Scheffler suffered three concussions over the past four years, which apparently factored large in his decision to call it a career.

Drafted out of West Michigan University by the Denver Broncos in the second round of the 2006 NFL draft, the tight end was traded to the Detroit Lions in 2010. The Lions cut him in October 2013 after he was out of action for 11 games due to concussions.

After his release, Scheffler, 31, worked out with the Chicago Bears and the Kansas City Chiefs. Although this activity did not immediately result in a contract, Scheffler said that there was “moderate” interest in him as a free agent for the upcoming NFL season.

Over eight years in the NFL with the Broncos and the Lions, Scheffler caught 258 passes for a total of 3,207 yards and 22 touchdowns.

As far as his post-NFL endeavors are concerned, “Scheffler says his plans include becoming a real estate agent and assistant football coach at the high school in his hometown of Chelsea, Michigan,” ESPN reported.

According to the Bleacher Report, “There is little doubt that other teams would have had some interest in Scheffler as a stretch-the-field tight end, but he deserves a lot of credit for stepping away at this juncture and putting his health first… Rather than risking a debilitating and life-changing injury, Scheffler is getting out of the sport while he is still relatively healthy.”

The head injury danger in professional football has caused the NFL to change various protocols, and also prompted several lawsuits against the league by ex-players. As The Inquisitr has previously reported, concussions can lead, often years after the initial injury, to numerous terrifying symptoms, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a dementia-like condition that can cause memory loss, severe depression and uncontrolled rage, and is believed to have led to the suicides of several former NFL players.

[image credit: Jeffrey Beall]