Bills LB A.J. Tarpley Announces Retirement Due To Concussions

Bills LB A.J. Tarpley announced Wednesday night via his Instagram account that he’s retiring from the NFL, due to concussions. 

“The only thing comforting about not knowing this play would be the last of my career, is knowing that I never took a second for granted.
After months of introspection, I am retiring from football. I suffered the 3rd and 4th concussions of my career this past season and I am walking away from the game I love to preserve my future health.

This decision is the hardest I’ve made yet but after much research and contemplation I believe it’s what is best for me going forward.

I’d like to extend my gratitude to everyone that helped me along the way. Thank you to my coaches at Wayzata and Stanford, and to lifelong friends that I was blessed to call teammates. You all molded me into the man I am today.
To my family, I’ll never be able to repay your unwavering support and love, I just hope that I can continue to show how gracious I am and make you proud.

I also want to thank the Buffalo Bills organization, coaches, and teammates for helping me fulfill my lifelong dream in the NFL. Last but not least, I’m proud to be a part of #BillsMafia and playing in front of the best fans in the league is something I won’t forget.
Thank you God for all that you have blessed me 🙏. I’m excited for my future.”

Tarpley, 23, wound up signing on with the Bills as an undrafted free agent out of Stanford back in May of last year. He has two years remaining on his three-year, $1.582 million rookie contract and was in line to make a base salary of $525,000 for the 2016 season.

In 2015, Tarpley appeared in 15 games for the bills and recorded eight tackles, a sack, two interceptions, a forced fumble, and two pass defenses.