Former Washington Football Team and San Francisco 49ers veteran tight end Jordan Reed has announced his retirement from the NFL due to lingering issues from multiple concussions suffered throughout his career, according to ESPN’s John Keim.
Reed, 30, visited Orlando’s Plasticity Center in late winter for a brain scan and says that those results indicated that he should retire. Reed took his time to come to the official decision to call it a career.
“I was pretty sure I was going to keep playing; I was feeling good about where I was at,” Reed said of his decision. “But then I had some lingering effects and sought out professional help to get diagnosed. They told me it was not a good idea to keep playing. I agreed with them.”
“Before when I had a concussion I would feel better afterwards and I wouldn’t have lingering effects,” Reed said. “If I didn’t have any symptoms I would have kept playing,” he said. “I’m OK with it because I know the reason why I’m making the choice is for family and my children, so I can be there for them. It’s just time.”
Reed played seven seasons in Washington before playing last season with the 49ers, during a career where he was constantly limited due to injuries, but managed to haul in 355 passes with 28 touchdowns.
Reed said that he is now getting involved in the cannabis industry after relying on marijuana to help with his injuries.
“I always knew the dangers of opioids,” Reed said. “I chose to lean on cannabis for a lot of that pain.”
