By John Sarianides

The sudden retirement of Baltimore Ravens center John Urschel should not be a surprise to anyone. In fact, get used to it. You will start to see more players retiring before or at the end of their first contract. 

The threat of CTE and the long term ramifications of the disease will force players to walk away from the game earlier. While some players will play longer because they love the game, the money, and the fame, others will walk away because of the long term health risks. 

Now more than ever, players are preparing for life after football before they even step foot onto an NFL field. In the case of Urschel, he will be getting his doctorate in Mathematics from MIT and is becoming a father in December. He has plenty to look forward to and he chose to put his health before the million of dollars he could have earned as the starting center of the Baltimore Ravens.

I have been saying for years now that the game of football is in big trouble. The game is as safe as it has ever been but the long term health risks associated with playing football are still there. “Concussion proof” helmets and Hawk Tackling are not going to save the game. It might be too late to save the game. The damage has been done and the best example of that are NFL players retiring early.

I believe that football as it we know it today may not exist in 20 years. Major changes are coming, starting at the younger levels. Within the next 1-3 years, all of youth football will go to a flag football format. They will no longer use equipment. High school governing bodies will follow the Ivy League model and eliminate contact at practice. A similar rule could be implemented throughout college football and eliminating padded practice could be a part of the next CBA in the NFL as well. 

Football is Amercia’s game but despite our love and passion for the game, partipation is down across the country. Parents are not allowing their kids to play the game. Seeing  NFL players like John Urschel walking away from the game at a young age only reinforces that they made the right decision not letting their sons play football. 

Young players are the backbone of the NFL They are the future of the league. The league cannot survive without them long term. Players voluntarily retiring in their 20’s could have a catastrophic effect on the league down the line. 

Two years ago, 49ers linebacker Chris Borland walked away from the game after one season. Now John Urschel is retiring after three seasons. Get used to it NFL fans. You are going to see more young players retiring early. It is life in the NFL today. The game has changed.