Eugene Monroe to retire from NFL at 29

Following his release from the Baltimore Ravens, offensive lineman Eugene Monroe, the NFL’s first active medical marijuana advocate, announces retirement at 29.

When Eugene Monroe was released from the Baltimore Ravens in June, the offensive lineman hinted that his public stance on the use of medical marijuana might have been a factor. Now, after nearly a month on the free agent market, Monroe has decided to retire at just 29 years of age.

My wife used to joke about the ‘little things I forget,’ but now she’s more concerned about things like me putting my phone in the freezer and then tearing up our house looking for it.

“I am thinking of my family first right now, and my health and my future,” Monroe said in an article written on The Players’ Tribune. “I have three beautiful children and an amazing wife, and they will be with me as I take these next steps.

Monroe’s services seemed to have be in some demand, as he was reportedly contacted by several teams following his release by the Ravens. Monroe declined those offers, knowing full well he was heading for retirement.

“The last 18 years have been full of traumatic injuries to both my head and my body,” Monroe said. “My wife used to joke about the ‘little things I forget,’ but now she’s more concerned about things like me putting my phone in the freezer and then tearing up our house looking for it.”

Monroe becomes the latest in an increasingly long line of NFL players to announce an early retirement. Detroit Lions wide receiver Calvin Johnson, Seattle Seahawks running back Marshawn Lynch and New England Patriots linebacker Jerod Mayo, just to name a few, all retired in 2016, fairly early in their respective careers.

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