Free agent safety Husain Abdullah had been one of the best players still available at his position, but he has decided to call it a career rather than signing with a new team. Abdullah announced in an Instagram post today that he will retire, citing concussion concerns as a key reason for the decision.
“There are numerous deciding factors in my decision, with personal health being foremost,” the 30-year-old said within his statement. “Sitting for five weeks last year after suffering the fifth concussion of my career, I had a lot to contemplate. My goals moving forward are to be of benefit to my family, my community, my country and hopefully the world. Having a sound mind will be vital in accomplishing these goals.”
An undrafted free agent out of Washington State, Abdullah made his debut for the Vikings in 2008, serving primarily as a special-teamer during his first couple years in the NFL. However, he started 24 games at safety during his final two years in Minnesota, in 2010 and 2011, grabbing a career-high three interceptions in ’10.
Abdullah stepped away from football during the 2012 season after suffering multiple concussions in 2011, but returned for the Chiefs in 2013, and spent three years in Kansas City. His best season as a Chief came in 2014, when he stepped in as a starter during Eric Berry‘s absence, recording 71 tackles, 10 passes defended, and an interception for a touchdown.
Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Good move
Nice career for a UDFA, and while I’m sure it was hard to pass up another decent payday–he certainly would have been a strong fit for a handful of clubs–you can certainly understand his rationale and his desire to get out before yet another concussion.
Abdullah had a very strong close to his career, and his presence allowed the Chiefs to get by with two cornerbacks last season. Their rare four-safety look in dime packages featured some unique players, and Abdullah was at the forefront of this.