The decision was about coming to terms with the totality of my concussion history. I gave everything I had, and when I couldn’t do that anymore, I retired out of respect for the sport—and my health
By A.J. Tarpley
I made my decision to retire when I entered the locker room for what would be the last time. I was not going to keep playing football unless I could block out everything. If I could push all the information about head trauma and my realized risk so far to the back of my mind that it wouldn’t affect my play and put me at further risk, then I would push on in pursuit of just a few more moments of elation.