Antwaan Randle El Regrets Playing Football

[redseat]

Former NFL player regrets playing football, says he's losing his memory and can't go down the stairs

Antwaan Randle El played in the NFL from 2002 to 2010. Perhaps most famously, he threw a 43-yard touchdown pass in Super Bowl XL against the Seattle Seahawks, making him the only wide receiver to ever make such a throw in a Super Bowl.
But six years out of the league, Randle El now says he regrets ever playing football.
In a revealing interview with The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Tuesday, Randle El said that he wished he had decided to play baseball instead of football.
"If I could go back, I wouldn't," he said. "I would play baseball. I got drafted by the Cubs in the 14th round, but I didn't play baseball because of my parents. They made me go to school. Don't get me wrong, I love the game of football. But right now, I could still be playing baseball."
Perhaps even more telling is the fact that Randle El, just 36, has already started to feel the effects. He has trouble walking up and down the stairs and has mental lapses.
"I have to come down sideways sometimes, depending on the day," Randle El said.
He added:

I ask my wife things over and over again, and she's like, "I just told you that." I'll ask her three times the night before and get up in the morning and forget. Stuff like that. I try to chalk it up as I'm busy, I'm doing a lot, but I have to be on my knees praying about it, asking God to allow me to not have these issues and live a long life. I want to see my kids raised up. I want to see my grandkids.​

 

[redseat]

Dude's only 36 and already having these problems. That's scary!

 

[redseat]

Wonder if these Supposide new helmets will really help

 

[SteelersPride]

to an extent, but not gonna cure things, this is a sad story

 

[redseat]

to an extent, but not gonna cure things, this is a sad story

Very sad story and yes they really need to figure out a way to make it safer

 

[SilverFalco8]

It is a sad story, if i was a pro athlete i would play baseball too. Baseball is really fun and don't want to worry about head problems later in life.

 

[OregonDucks]

he was a stud WR.

 

[Hank Kingsley]

I hate hearing stuff like this.

It's sort of a yeah but thing.

Yeah football gave me all this stuff, but I wish I'd done this instead.

There are risks with everything. I choose to drive "quickly". I don't risk others, but others could still do me harm with their stupidity or ineptness.

Start early, no head shots. Leading with or receiving from. Ingrained is ingrained. Heavily penalize those who do either.

Rugby can do it. Therefore it must be a no brainer.

 

[mall3013]

Dude's only 36 and already having these problems. That's scary!

This is truly sad. There will be many more stories similar to this once football is over for these athletes. Even with all the money these guys earn throughtout their career, how can they enjoy it when they have severe health issues after retiring?

 

[redseat]

This is truly sad. There will be many more stories similar to this once football is over for these athletes. Even with all the money these guys earn throughtout their career, how can they enjoy it when they have severe health issues after retiring?

Yeah more and more stories will come out... Scary shiat

 

[mall3013]

He was fun to watch in both college and the NFL. I do hope he can get the proper guidance from health professionals and the continued support from his family.

 

[Jakology]

It's really sad that this is happening. And our game is becoming less and less entertaining with all the rules to combat it. I'm not sure how much longer this can continue.

 

[Bmurph]

Sorry to hear this kind of thing, very brutal sport. I would take the money and the 162 game season baseball entails also

 

[moxie]

What an unfortunate situation. Sad stuff.

 

[Jakology]

Sorry to hear this kind of thing, very brutal sport. I would take the money and the 162 game season baseball entails also

Yeah. I would for sure play baseball, or maybe basketball. Longer season, but that's much easier to deal with than the physical toll football takes.

 

[BUD]

This is a sad story. I hope he has been seeing neurologists, specialists,etc. I know a lot of people with brain injuries, I used to go to a brain injury support group after a had my accident, he really needs support, it helps

 

[Bmurph]

Yeah. I would for sure play baseball, or maybe basketball. Longer season, but that's much easier to deal with than the physical toll football takes.

I may not allow my son to play football, if he decides he's interested. I played until 10th grade and that was too long for me. Thinking golf may be the safest bet

 

[Jakology]

I may not allow my son to play football, if he decides he's interested. I played until 10th grade and that was too long for me. Thinking golf may be the safest bet

Golf takes a toll quickly. At least for me. I struggle to maintain stamina after the front 9 when it's sunny and 60+. May be because I'm more of an aggressive player, and I put too much elbow grease into my swings. I just can't get myself out of that habit. I lose a good 10 or so golf balls every time I golf, because I pull everything right. I can't imagine what it's like to be on the PGA tour. I honestly have the highest respect for all athletes, because I understand that every sport is very tough to master and make it through a full season.

 

[Diamondeye]

I feel badly for him, but this stuff grabs the headlines, while the 80-90% of former NFL players show no signs of these things.

That 10-20% falls in line with the general dementia rate, does it not?

I agree that playing football can accelerate the process, but being the primary cause of dementia among NFL players? A pretty flawed theory, IMO.

 

[FaCe-LeE-uS]

Very sad story. Hate to hear this.

He was a good WR & PR/KR specialist. Because of his positional flexibility he was getting hit a lot more than most WR's. I remember quite a few big hits on punt returns in particular that looked scary.

I hope he gets the help he needs.