For many professional athletes, coming to the realization that playing at a high level is either no longer possible or advisible is a tough moment to overcome. Sometimes that decision comes much sooner than you anticipate a swell. Former NFL player David Bruton recently opened up about his decision to walk away from football in a featured story published by The Denver Post.
Like many former football players who have stepped into retirement, especially those doing so at a relatively young age, Bruton says a concern about head trauma played a vital role in his decision at the end of the 2016 season.
“I like to consider myself a smart guy. A bit of a nerd,” Bruton said to The Denver Post. “So I like to have my brain functioning when I get a little older. That was a big reason.”
According to the featured story, Bruton suffered six concussions during his NFL career. The sixth was experienced last October as he was playing as a member of the Washington Redskins. He was placed on injured reserve and later cut loose by the team. After a workout with the Baltimore Ravens did not meet his expectations, Bruton came to realize his time to move on from football had probably arrived.
“I didn’t do well, nor did I have the passion to work out and really get back into shape or anything,” Bruton explained. “My agents hit me up about a couple other teams for the playoffs who wanted me to come work out and I was just — no.”
So what does retirement have in store for Bruton? As it turns out, he’s heading back to school. And perhaps his experience in the NFL and the reasons for retirement have influenced what he wants to do next; pursuing an education in physical therapy at the University of Colorado Denver.
“At the end of the day it came down to health and being able to still get up and play with the kiddos or take the dog on the run or go do hobbies,” Bruton said. “I just lost passion to continue playing. I felt like it was the best route for me to hang it up and pursue a different route.”
You can read the full featured article and interview for some more quotes from Bruton on The Denver Post.
