Former Kansas City Chiefs and Minnesota Vikings safety Husain Abdullah announced his retirement on Monday morning, citing multiple concussions suffered during his playing career as the reason on his Instagram.
Former Chiefs, Vikings safety Husain Abdullah announces retirement
Abdullah is citing concussions as the reason he is leaving the NFL at age 30.
Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports
“There are numerous deciding factors in my decision, with personal health being foremost,” Abdullah wrote. “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.”
Abdullah, 30, earned a spot on the Vikings’ roster in 2008 as an undrafted free agent. After contributing on special teams for two seasons, he stepped into the starting lineup in 2010. Following two years as a starter in Minnesota, Abdullah and his older brother Hamza Abdullah stepped away from football in 2012 to make a pilgrimage to Mecca, as part of their Islamic faith.
The hiatus from the NFL meant the end of Hamza Abdullah's career, but Husain Abdullah managed to receive a one-year, $715,000 deal from the Kansas City Chiefs to keep playing, which he parlayed into a two-year, $2.28 million contract with the team a year later.
The elder Abdullah, who recently posted a lengthy letter to the NFL about his time in the league and his eventual departure, spoke to Sports Illustrated last week about an NFL executive admitting there is a link between football and CTE.
“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 Abdullah played out his contract and was a free agent after seven NFL seasons. He retires with six interceptions, 2.5 sacks and 231 tackles in 97 NFL games.
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