“My explanation is concussion”: Former NFL player turns down state Hall of Fame nomination

Former NFL player Corey Widmer was in line to be celebrated as part of the Montana Football Hall of Fame. That is, until Widmer turned the honor down.

Widmer explained the sport of football “destroyed my life,” and numerous concussions have brought on symptoms of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease. Among his symptoms are depression, memory problems, mood swings and the need for isolation. Widmer said his thumb has recently started twitching.

“I’m 49 years old, depressed to the Nth degree, but have a lot of money … and some people might say it’s still worth it. I just tell them to watch what they wish for, “Widmer said, via the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. “If someone could’ve explained all of this to me when I was 14, I would’ve given it all back in a heartbeat. I would’ve wished for something else.”

“When I refused entry I had to give an explanation, and my explanation is concussion,” Widmer told Lee Newspapers of Montana.”

A Montana State alum, Widmer was a defensive lineman for the New York Giants from 1992 to 1999. He finished his career with 271 tackles, 7.5 sacks and four interceptions.

Widmer, who was a plaintiff in the NFL concussion lawsuit, explained he did not want to attend the induction and make a political statement. He couldn’t remain silent after reading about a lawsuit filed by the family of a 16-year-old in Belt, Mont., who suffered a concussion in a 2014 game and collapsed after playing the next weekend, leaving him paralyzed and unable to speak.

“That was the moment that made me understand,” Widmer said.

Widmer has begun urging parents to delay their children’s participation in tackle football possibly as long until their senior year of high school. He also argued letting children in fifth through eighth grade play tackle football equates to child endangerment.

“If we can just have parents take another look at these kids and the potential dangers for the most prized possessions in their life, maybe they could put that off for a few years,” Widmer said.

This story was originally published March 27, 2018 at 8:25 AM with the headline "“My explanation is concussion”: Former NFL player turns down state Hall of Fame nomination."