San Francisco 49ers player Chris Borland , a leading rookie last season , is retiring from the NFL at age 24 over health concerns related to repeated head trauma , ESPN and the team said on Monday . ESPN reported he was retiring over health concerns related to head trauma , an issue that has rattled the league and prompted a massive lawsuit against the NFL . ' I just honestly want to do what 's best for my health , ' Borland told ESPN 's Outside the Lines . 'From what I 've researched and what I 've experienced , I do n't think it 's worth the risk . ' He continued : ' I just want to live a long , healthy life , and I do n't want to have any neurological diseases or die younger than I would otherwise . ' Scroll down for video . San Francisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland is retiring from the NFL over health concerns related to repeated head trauma . Borland , who played college football at University of Wisconsin , played just one year in the NFL with the 49ers . The 49ers did not specify in its statement why Borland chose to leave after just one season . 'From speaking with Chris , it was evident that he had put a great deal of thought into this decision . He was a consummate professional from day one , ' 49ers general manager Trent Baalke said in a statement . 'While unexpected , we certainly respect Chris ' decision . ' Borland , a linebacker , was a star in his only season with the team , registering 108 tackles , a quarterback sack and two interceptions , and earned several rookie of the week and rookie of the month honors . An ankle injury in December ended his season . He has had two prior concussions and said he notified the 49ers of his decision on Friday , which the team confirmed . Borland , who had two concussions prior to retirement , made his announcement on Friday . ' I just honestly want to do what 's best for my health , ' he told ESPN 's Outside the Lines program . The third-round NFL Draft choice said he was being 'proactive ' despite feeling 'as sharp as I 've ever been . ' ' I 'm concerned that if you wait till you have symptoms , it 's too late , ' Borland said . 'There are a lot of unknowns . I ca n't claim that X will happen . ' He becomes the most prominent NFL player to turn his back on a rich contract , a four-year deal worth just under $ 3million in Borland 's case , over concerns about brain injuries . The announcement comes as an unexpected blow to the 49ers , who have already had a difficult off-season and also saw standout linebacker Patrick Willis retire last week . Many sports reporters and commentators went to Twitter to express their thoughts about Borland 's retirement . Tim Kawakami from the San Jose Mercury News Tweeted that he found the culture of football - and the lifestyle that comes with it - to be changing . His Tweet suggests that Borland 's decision could mean putting him at the forefront of changing the perspectives of football . NFL.com 's Michael Silver suggested that people should take a step back from what Borland 's retirement means for the 49ers and look at what it means for football as a whole . San Jose Mercury News 's Tim Kawakami and NFL.com 's Michael Silver highlighted what Borland 's retirement meant for the larger sport of football . ' I used to think that 99 % of players would n't be able to pull themselves away from this -- the game , the fame , the lifestyle . But ... ' Kawakami wrote . 'But the perspective is changing . Chris Borland just put himself at the forefront of that , and he obviously did it with a lot of thought . ' ' I understand the compulsion of 49ers fans to see this through team-centric eyes , but Borland 's decision is bigger than that , obviously , ' Silver wrote . Monday Morning Quarterback 's Andrew Brandt mentioned that this announcement might allow other players to be more open about concussions . Monday Morning Quarterback 's Andrew Brandt said that Borland 's retirement could allow for other players to have more open discussions about concussions . Sports Illustrated writer Doug Farrar suggested that Junior Seau 's suicide may have played a role in Borland 's Decision . 'Borland news may not lead to more players retiring early but may lead to less players inclined to hide and play through the head trauma , ' Brandt wrote . Sports Illustrated writer Doug Farrar suggested that Junior Seau 's suicide may have played a role in Borland 's Decision . 'Looking at the number of early retirees in the NFL this month , You 'd better believe the Junior Seau story has a lot of people thinking , ' Farrar wrote . A class-action lawsuit involving thousands of former players , filed in 2012 , contended that the league hid the dangers of brain injury among players while profiting from the sport 's violent physical contact . There have been suicides in recent years by former NFL players , including Jovan Belcher , Junior Seau , Ray Easterling and Dave Duerson . In February , a U.S. judge refused to accept a proposed settlement between the NFL and the players , saying payment should be expanded for some players and families among other concerns .
Chris , a leading rookie in 2014 , turned down four-year , $ 3million contract . 'From what I 've researched and what I 've experienced , I do n't think it 's worth the risk , ' he said . The linebacker had two concussions prior to making his announcement . A lawsuit filed in 2012 contended that NFL hid dangers of brain injury among players while profiting from sport 's violent physical contact .