Houston Texans RB Arian Foster 'considered retirement'

Jul 26, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans running back Arian Foster (23) warms up during training camp at Houston Methodist Training Center. Mandatory Credit: Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports

In an on-air interview with ESPN’s Hannah Storm, Houston Texans running back Arian Foster finally spoke about his back injury and surgery and how he almost called it quits in the NFL.

Foster, in quotes provided by ESPN’s Tania Ganguli, said the following:

"“Any time an athlete goes through an injury like that – a back, a neck, even knees or hips, something that puts you out for the entire season – you kind of re-evaluate your life. You see what’s really important. Is getting paralyzed more important than playing with your grand kids when you’re 50, 60 years old? People die on the football field. This is a really brutal sport. Going through an injury like that, being 27 years old, I’m young, still I’m at the prime of my career. Is it worth it to try to come back?”"

In all honesty, I don’t blame Foster for that mindset. He realizes that there is more to life than football, and he wants to leave with his health.

Football is just a part of every player’s life, but they all know the risks that go with playing the game.

Later in the interview, to sum it up, Foster said he will walk away from the game when he wants to. I don’t question his “drive” or anything like that … actually, I respect how he feels about the game and his life away from football.

Doctors recommended to New York Giants running back David Wilson that he stop playing football for his overall value of life and his health away from the field on Monday, according to multiple reports.

Report: Houston Texans RB Arian Foster ‘considered retirement’

By Stephen Forsha | Aug 4, 2014