Shea McCellin Not Ruling Out Return To NFL, But Focused On Coaching High School Football

Free agent LB Shea McCellin tells Mike Reiss of ESPN that he isn’t retiring and there’s still a chance he could return to the NFL. However, his focus right now remains on coaching high school football.

“I’m still staying ready, still working out,” McCellin said. “I’ve learned to never say never, there’s always a chance that I could still play again, but for now all my focus is on coaching high school.”

Last year, McClellin attempted to return from injured reserve, but wound up remaining on the list for the duration of the season.

“It’s difficult whenever you get an injury that holds you out, when you kind of feel like you’re good and then find out you’re not. It’s always tough,” McClellin said. “I think it was just over time, it wasn’t just one thing. I’ve had five documented concussions, and probably more than that which aren’t documented. It was just residual effects that I couldn’t overcome, which is unfortunate. But sometimes that’s the way it plays out and you just have to deal with it.

“I was feeling good, but unfortunately had more residual effects from concussions. It’s something they can’t clear you for. That’s the way it is nowadays, they’re tough on concussion things. It’s difficult, but I got through it. One thing I’d say, they handled it like they should have. I’m not upset with them, they’re not upset with me, it’s just the way it is. They handled it perfectly.”

A few weeks ago, Moutain View High School in Meridian, Idaho announced that McClellin was joining their coaching staff as their linebackers coach.

Here’s the announcement from the school:

“Former Boise State Football standout and ex Chicago Bear and New England Patriot Shea McClellin is the newest member of the Maverick Football program.  McClellin with coach linebackers with head coach Judd Benedick starting next week as the MAVS begin Spring Football.  Shea will join ex BSU teammate Tyler Horn on the Maverick staff, as Horn is assisting in coaching the defensive line.  Welcome to the Maverick family Shea!”

McClellin, 28, is a former first-round pick of the Bears back in 2012. Chicago declined his fifth-year option, which allowed him to test the open market and he eventually signed a three-year, $8.95 million contract with $3.5 million guaranteed with the Patriots in 2016.

McClellin was set to make a base salary of $2.15 million for the 2018 season when the Patriots released him back in February.

Last year, McClellin was placed on injured reserve coming out of the preseason and while he was designated to return, the Patriots never activated him from the list and missed the entire 2017 season.

In 2016, McClellin appeared in 14 games and recorded 41 tackles, one sack and a fumble recovery.