Zander Diamont is walking away from the game for good reason.
Indiana’s spry backup quarterback announced this week after the completion of the Hoosiers season he’ll be walking away from football for good. Speaking with the Indianapolis Star, Diamont admitted he was running for his life on the football field.
“I was just trying to not get hit,” Diamont said. “I was just concerned about that mostly, just running for my life. I knew we had to get some time off.”
The junior was known for his running skills as a QB. He famously ran a 79-yard touchdown against Ohio State University in 2015 in almost leading the Hoosiers to an upset of the then top-ranked Buckeyes.
Diamont conceded the decision to walk away is about his future health.
“That’s just not my style and if I’m going to go out, I’m going to go out my way,” he said, later adding, “I think that for my safety and my future – I’m not going to the NFL – I need my brain. So that was the decision.”
It’s hard to blame Diamont for prioritizing his health. As a mobile quarterback, he’s more prone to hard contact. As such, he’s more likely to suffer a serious brain injury. Walking away now means he leaves healthy and unscathed. For someone with little pro potential, it’s the only sensible long-term bet.
Diamont said he plans to join his dad, Bold and the Beautiful actor Don Diamont, and pursue a career in the entertainment industry. It would be an odd, but appropriate career pivot. Diamont doesn’t have a future in football, so refusing to further risk his health is understandable. Hopefully, the next time we see Diamont on TV is when we’re watching the soaps with our grandparents.
[IndyStar]
