49ers’ Reed retiring over lingering concussion issues
Jordan Reed’s retirement Tuesday stirred a few nice memories from his 2020 comeback with the 49ers. It also was a reminder of how his pre-49ers concussions hurt his health.
“I think at this point, what made the choice easy was the fact that I’m dealing with some stuff from concussions and stuff like that,” Reed said to USA Today Sports. “Before, I was able to ignore it and not think about it too much, but when I start dealing with stuff, that’s when it becomes realistic and makes me sit back and think about what I need to do, and how I want to live my life after football.
“I had to really seek professional help and sit down and talk with people ... and it’s definitely the right decision right now.”
Reed, 30, according to ESPN, planned to keep playing but was advised to retire after a winter visit to Orlando’s Plasticity Center for a brain scan.
Reed’s career concluded in mostly dull fashion on a 49ers team waylaid by injuries. He was handled with care in practices once training camp began because of his concussion history, an issue that is ongoing and prompted his Tuesday exit.
A seventh-documented concussion kept him out in his final season with Washington in 2019. Last season, Reed’s health also was impacted by a Week 3 knee injury that sidelined him the 49ers’ five ensuing games.
Reed had career-high numbers in 2015 (87 catches, 952 yards, 11 touchdowns) and he made the Pro Bowl the next season with Washington before health issues stalled out his career.
— Cam Inman
TOMLIN GETS EXTENSION >> The Steelers signed longtime coach Mike Tomlin to a three-year contract extension that runs through the 2024 season.
Tomlin is 145-78-1 in 14 years with the Steelers, winning one Super Bowl and going to another. The franchise has reached the playoffs nine times during Tomlin’s tenure and captured its seventh AFC North title under him in 2020.
The Steelers went 12-5 in 2020, winning their first 11 games before stumbling down the stretch, including a blowout loss to Cleveland at home in the first round of the playoffs. The team is in the midst of a mini-overhaul, particularly on offense after two assistants were let go and center Maurkice Pouncey and tight end Vance McDonald retired.
The 49-year-old Tomlin already is 21st in NFL history in career wins. WASHINGTON WAIVES FORMER STANFORD STAR BRYCE LOVE >> The Washington Football Team waived running back Bryce Love, the former Stanford star who has yet to play a down in the NFL. Love was the runner-up for the Heisman Trophy as a junior in 2017, when he ran for 2,118 yards on 263 carries (8.1 yards per attempt) and 19 touchdowns.
Love tore his ACL in the final game of his collegiate career his senior year. Washington selected him in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft but placed him on the reserve/ non-football injury list before the season began.