Russell Allen forced to retire at 27 after concussion led to a stroke

show ad

Duke and Duchess learn to DJ: William and Kate hit the decks in Adelaide as they visit suburb named after the Queen
Devastated wife of father-of-two killed in vicious SWAN ATTACK sues lake owner for failing to consider the dangers of keeping territorial birds on the water
$BROOKSVILLE - A grand jury has moved to indict a Brooksville woman on charges of murder in the first degree and aggravated child abuse. April Nichol Brooklyn Weber, 26, was arrested on the charges Mar. 24 after she admitted to throwing her six-week-old baby on a bed and against a dresser. Law enforcement and paramedics responded to Weber's home at 22203 Mondon Hill Road on the afternoon before her arrest after receiving a call about an injured infant. The baby, Aubrie Weber, was airlifted to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa with severe injuries, including fractures on both sides of her skull and bleeding in her skull. The baby was resuscitated three times but eventually died from her injuries, according to the sheriff's office. Weber initially told detectives she dropped the baby while bouncing her on her leg, but later admitted to lifting the baby over her head and throwing her on the bed, causing the infant to bounce from the bed to the floor, and then throwing her against a dress$ Mother who 'lifted 6-month-old baby over her head by the feet before smashing her into a dresser' pleads not guilty to murder
Police swarm Long Island home after vengeful 'Call of Duty' gamer calls cops on kid who beat him
'Manipulative' Miami man, 42, GUILTY of brutally murdering his wife, 21, with a tire iron just four days after their wedding so he could claim her $1million life insurance
'I thought it would make a good photo. It was then that he bit me': Sheriff's Deputy has face mauled by police K9 when he tried to take a SELFIE with it
Young mother claims mayor's son and wife duped her into letting them adopt her newborn despite divorcing weeks later and now wants the baby BACK
Chinatown's American Dream: Meet the migrant workers who sleep packed into tiny $9-a-night New York cubicles, while families share meals in a space the size of a cupboard
'I don't want to wait any longer': Mother turns to Facebook in hopes she'll finally locate her biological family
A gentleman is always on time and makes love on his elbows... but doesn't tweet or own a cat: Country Life reveals its 'Gentlemanly Commandments'
Five Buffalo Bills cheerleaders file class suit claiming they were forced to do 'jiggle test', were sexually harassed and exploited out of 840 hours of pay EACH
Cardiologist refuses to pay $135,000 bill for FOUR visits to New York strip club because he claims he was 'drugged' each time
Bachelorette contestant left in a coma and 'clinging to life' after horror paragliding accident in Utah
Father's fury as his terrified children, aged two and six, are forced to undergo FULL-BODY pat-downs by TSA agents
Do YOU have signs of autism? Take this test to find out if you're one of the rising number with the condition
'We're going to be strong right alongside you': Barack Obama consoles mud slide survivors
Youth football coach, 46, who 'kidnapped and killed girl, 10' is hit with new charges of rape and sodomy after her autopsy
America's middle class no longer the world's richest as CANADIANS take over, report finds
But will you wake up with a horse head in bed? Inside the lavish Italian palazzo owned by Godfather director Francis Ford Coppola
Now who's the dummy? Student kicked in the head by train conductor set to earn $250,000 after his YouTube video receives more than 23 million views
Disabled man who was forced to CRAWL off Delta plane, down a flight of stairs... and do the same on his flight back from Hawaii vacation wins a 'substantial' payout
NFL player forced to retire at age 27 after concussion during game led to a STROKE
Rising star of Florida GOP who sponsored drug testing bill busted for DUI at a Taco Bell just miles from state Capitol
'They robbed my family': Widow's anguish as three teens indicted for killing married father-of-two on son's birthday after he willingly gave the muggers his wallet

Russell Allen was injured while playing against Buffalo Bills last year
Jacksonville Jaguars player had double vision and headache during game

Published: 16:27 EST, 22 April 2014 | Updated: 17:03 EST, 22 April 2014

View
comments

NFL linebacker Russell Allen is to retire from professional football at the age of 27 after suffering a concussion and stroke during a game in December.

Allen, who lives in San Diego with his wife and two-year-old son, had been playing for Jacksonville Jaguars when he got knocked during a game against the Buffalo Bills.

The footballer wasn't knocked unconscious, but he had blurred vision for the rest of the game and a pounding headache the following morning.

Game over: A head injury has forced Russell Allen to retire from the Jacksonville Jaguars

Allen has what he described as a dead spot, no bigger than a dime, on his cerebellum which controls motor movement and coordination.

The Jaguars released Allen last week after his personal physician consulted with the team's medical staff before a scheduled physical.

The Jaguars declined to comment on Tuesday, citing medical privacy laws. Allen did not immediately return a message left on his cellphone.

More...

'I told my story so athletes understand you can't ignore head injuries,' Allen posted on his Twitter page today.

'If you're not sure you have one, then you do. Report it immediately,' he warned.

In the months after Allen's initial stroke diagnosis, he saw three neurosurgeons. The last one advised him to quit playing football.

Allen told MMQB he has struggled to pick up and grip objects - doctors believe this will subside in time - and will be on blood-thinning medication for the rest of his life.

The footballer hopes others will learn from his experience.

'Guys talk about it all the time, "I'm all right; I just got my bell rung",' he said.

Injured: Allen, seen playing for the Jaguars in 2012, had a stroke after getting hurt during a game last year

'I've had, maybe 10 times in my career, when for a second I felt woozy after a hit. And what I've learned from this is that it's not something to be overlooked.

'If it feels like something's wrong, something's wrong. I want someone to know my experience, so they can know when they experience something similar.'

Allen sustained the concussion and stroke in Week 15 against the Buffalo Bills, after running into the team's center, Eric Wood, several yards downfield.

'It was strange because it was so routine,' Allen said. 'We hit, I got off the block, no big deal. I felt something flash - like they say when you get your bell rung.

'I didn't lose consciousness. I walked back to the huddle and finished the drive.'

Later in the game, though, Allen began having double vision on the sideline. He did not notify team trainers, instead asking teammate Paul Posluszny if his eye was OK.

Allen had a headache after the game and again when he woke up the next day, which prompted him to tell the team.

The Jaguars ordered a MRI and sent Allen home. That Tuesday, the Jags told Allen to meet a team physician at the emergency room. Allen was told he had suffered a stroke and had tests for three days at the hospital.

Wood responded to Allen's retirement through Twitter, saying: 'Pretty sobering reading on ESPN bottom line that a collision I had with a LB for the Jags gave him a stroke and career over.'

Former Jaguars LB Allen had stroke in game

MOST WATCHED NEWS VIDEOS

Comments (6)

Share what you think

The comments below have not been moderated.

Petunia, Timbuktu, 5 hours ago

I'm sorry. That must have been an awful blow. I hope he can find another line of work that he really enjoys. Coaching, maybe? At any rate, I wish him health and happiness in the future.

Click to rate

morphee, Providence, 6 hours ago

No amount of money is worth your life.

Click to rate

Exoticdreamer, Worldwide, United States, 8 hours ago

You would risk bad health for money?! People like you shouldn't reproduce spectrum19!

Click to rate

spectrum19, Minneapolis, United States, 7 hours ago

Do you drive at all? That's risky...so according to you every baseball, football, basketball, hockey player, shouldn't enjoy what they love doing because they "might" blow out a knee or get a concussion....do you sit inside fearing something bad may happen? Are you a liberal? Lol