Safety Husain Abdullah, who played seven seasons in the NFL with the Vikings and Chiefs, announced his retirement today, citing the five (diagnosed) concussions that he suffered during his pro career. He made the announcement on his Instagram account, with a message for the fans of both organizations he played for. Abdullah stated that concern about his future health was the foremost deciding factor in his decision, saying:
"There are numerous deciding factors in my decision, with personal health being foremost. Sitting for five weeks last year after suffering the fifth concussion of my career, I had a lot to contemplate. My goals moving forward are to be of benefit to my family, my community, my country and hopefully the world. Having a sound mind will be vital in accomplishing these goals."
Last week Abdullah's brother, Hamza, who also played seven years in the league as a defensive back, talked to Sports Illustrated about the NFL exec. who finally stated publicly there's a link between CTE and football, telling them:
"They probably don't understand the magnitude of actually admitting it. I don't know if there's an arrogance, but it seems that way. It's like, ‘We've already settled with the players. We know we're lying, but you guys can't do anything, because there's already a settlement.' But that's not the case."
Husain, who is only 30-years-old, has played in the league since 2008 when he signed with Minnesota after going undrafted. He missed the 2012 season due to a pilgrimage to Mecca. In 97 career games (45 of which he started) he had 261 tackles and six interceptions.
[via Instagram]
Send all complaints, compliments, and tips to sportstips@complex.com
