Former San Francisco 49ers linebacker Chris Borland received a $617,436 signing bonus when he inked his four-year contract with the team after being drafted last year. The 24-year-old is giving most of that money back.
During an interview with CBS News’ Face the Nation on Sunday morning, Borland said he will return roughly 75 percent of his signing bonus to the Niners. He also shed some light on his decision to retire after just one season.
“It’s not a cash grab as I’ve been accused of,” Borland told host Bob Shieffer, per Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee. “I’m paying back three-fourth of my signing bonus. I’m only taking the money I’ve earned. To me it’s just about health and nothing else. I never played the game for money or attention. I love football. I’ve had a blast. I don’t regret the last 10 years of my life at all. I’d do it over the exact same way.”
Because Borland played out just one season of his contract, the 49ers were entitled to recover most of the bonus money. But as Will Brinson of CBSSports.com notes, Borland is saving the team from what could have been some bad publicity if they had to chase him for it.
Despite what this NFL medical consultant recently said about the NFL, Borland made a decision that he thought was best for his long-term health. Money obviously wasn’t a major factor.
