Riders’ Emry announces retirement amid career concussion concerns
Shea Emry’s body feels as good now as it did eight years ago when he was a rookie with the Montreal Alouettes. It’s his mind he worries about.
The 29-year-old veteran linebacker is so concerned about the toll “upwards of 10 concussions” have taken that he has decided to retire in the prime of his career.
The Richmond, B.C., native announced his decision Wednesday after he missed most of last season with the Saskatchewan Roughriders due to a head injury. With his second child due in May, Emry isn’t taking any more chances.
“That (concussion concerns) is a big reason why I am stepping away,” Emry said. “My body feels like I’m a 20-year-old newly drafted Montreal Alouette.
“I don’t feel like the football world took a toll on my skeletal body but on my mental state, for sure, and that’s what I was most concerned about. Having a young family and really wanting to be able to be around and cognizant and engaged for the length of their lives, I made a decision for myself but mostly for my family.”
Emry is the latest player to leave football amid health concerns. Earlier this month Western Mustangs quarterback Will Finch retired after missing time in 2014 and ’15 with head injuries.
San Francisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland retired prior to the 2015 campaign after one NFL season because of concerns about repetitive head trauma.
The six-foot, 228-pound Emry was Montreal’s first-round pick in the 2008 CFL draft and quickly became its starting middle linebacker. He spent six seasons with the Als — winning two Grey Cups and collecting 261 tackles, 13 sacks and four interceptions — before signing as a free agent with the Toronto Argonauts in 2014.
Emry played in all 18 regularseason games with Toronto, registering 72 tackles before being dealt to Saskatchewan for defensive end Ricky Foley. But he suffered his season-ending concussion in the Riders’ season opener.
“For me to continue going out there and putting myself through that, I just didn’t think was a good idea,” Emry said.
Emry achieved football success despite a long, secret battle with depression. In a 2014 interview with The Canadian Press, Emry admitted he had contemplated suicide.
After enjoying Grey Cup success with Montreal in 2009 and ’10, Emry missed half of the next season with a concussion and again struggled with depression.
In 2012, Emry began sharing his story publicly to emphasize the importance of men talking about depression.