A.J. Tarpley announced his retirement tonight via Instagram because of concussion concerns. The second-year Bills linebacker is the latest player to do so and joins a growing list of young players leaving football early.
A second-year cog expected to see time on the Bills’ second level again this season, Tarpley confirmed he suffered the third and fourth concussions of his career as a rookie in 2015. He joined the Bills as an undrafted free agent from Stanford.
Tarpley started in two games last season and played in 15. The 23-year-old linebacker played mostly on special teams but recorded a sack and made two interceptions, though, one of which he returned for 37 yards against the Cowboys.
He looked set to potentially compete for a starting position after Nigel Bradham, whom Tarpley started in place of last season due to injury, left to join the Eagles.
Tarpley joins Husain Abdullah among early retirees this spring who’ve cited concussions as their primary reason for leaving the game early, just as Chris Borland did last year.
Well he went to Stanford so he’s prepared for life after football.