Rodney Harrison, the former all-pro safety for the San Diego Chargers and New England Patriots, said he’s scared for his future after sustaining numerous concussions during his playing days.

“I’m scared to death,” Harrison said in an interview with NBC’s Bob Costas. “I have four kids, I have a beautiful wife and I’m scared to death what might happen to me 10 or 15 years from now.”

Harrison estimates that he suffered at least 20 concussions during his 15-year NFL career. He said he currently suffers headaches and symptoms of loneliness, isolation and anxiety.


Harrison said that the league didn’t do enough to keep players safe during his playing days.

“I would get up, hit someone, the entire stadium is spinning around, and I would walk to the sideline and they would hold me out for one play, they’d give me two Advils, and they’d tell me, ‘Get back into the game.’

“The NFL, if they’re guilty of anything it’s the lack of awareness that they brought and the lack of education that they told us.

“They never told us or explained to us or even let us know what a concussion was. I had no idea until just recently. And even since I retired from the Patriots in 2008, I would still experience headaches.”


Harrison is speaking out following the recent suicides of former players Dave Duerson and Junior Seau.

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