Seattle Seahawks strong safety Kam Chancellor is facing the possibility of ending his NFL career due to a severe neck injury he sustained. While Chancellor has not explicitly stated his retirement, his recent social media posts hint at his contemplation of stepping away from the game.
In a tweet, Chancellor expressed, “To walk away from the game by choice is one thing, to walk away from the game because of the risk of paralysis is another.”
The 30-year-old Chancellor suffered the neck injury last season and had expressed a desire to continue playing if he recovered. However, in a recent update, he mentioned that his latest injury evaluation did not indicate any improvement.
Acknowledging his history of playing through injuries, Chancellor admitted this particular injury is one he cannot overlook.
Having been named a Pro Bowler four times, Chancellor missed the final games of the previous season after the injury occurred during a game against the Arizona Cardinals in November.
Having signed a lucrative three-year contract extension last summer, the financial implications of Chancellor potentially retiring are complex. His 2018 salary of $6.8 million was fully guaranteed, and $5.2 million of his 2019 salary is already secured due to injury clauses. If he retires, these guarantees may be at risk, although there could be discussions for a possible settlement between the player and the team.
