A month ago offensive lineman Eugene Monroe announced he was not returning to the Baltimore Ravens for the 2016 season. It turns out he will not be returning to any NFL team in 2016 after announcing his retirement Thursday morning.
In an essay written for and published by The Players’ Tribune, Monroe cites a focus over his health with concerns of CTE.
Today, I am making my exit from the game of football. I’m leaving the sport I love — the sport that has consumed my existence for the last 18 years — to start a new life. I’m nervous, but I feel like I’m ready for whatever comes next. I have three beautiful children and an amazing wife, and they will be with me as I take these next steps.
Monroe is another player in a growing list of NFL players making the decision to retire early as the awareness of head trauma continues to rise. It cannot be a coincidence, and Monroe says it is something that scares him, although he says he hopes he is not already a victim of some degree of head trauma.
I’m only 29 and I still have the physical ability to play at a very high level, so I know that my decision to retire may be puzzling to some. But I am thinking of my family first right now — and my health and my future.
The last 18 years have been full of traumatic injuries to both my head and my body. I’m not complaining, just stating a fact. Has the damage to my brain already been done? Do I have CTE? I hope I don’t, but over 90% of the brains of former NFL players that have been examined showed signs of the disease. I am terrified.
Monroe went on to say one of the first things he plans on doing in his new retirement is see a doctor for a full evaluation of his health. He intends to get body and brain scans to cover every facet of his health in hopes of gaining full control over his future without football.
Monroe has been a vocal leader in the community advocating for medical marijuana use by NFL players going through rehab. It has been a cause he has strongly been tied to, and it may have been part of the reason the Ravens opted not to bring him back to the team depending upon whom you believe on the matter. Monroe has previously committed to donating $10,000 to marijuana research and encouraged others to consider providing similar support.
