As a result of a neck injury suffered at practice in December, Green Bay Packers linebacker Jeremy Thompson will retire.
“I have consulted with a number of physicians, and due to my medical condition my intention is to retire from football,” Thompson said in a statement released by the Packers. “I am thankful to the Packers organization and to the fans for their support during my time in Green Bay. The Packers are a first-class organization and I want to thank them for the opportunity to play in the NFL. There truly is no team I would have rather played for.”
Thompson told Greg A. Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, “Ideally, I would love to keep playing but the risk is just too high and I would like be able to hold my wife and play with my kids after football. . . . [The injury] left permanent damage to my neck and spine.”
Thompson was hospitalized after suffering the injury while attempting to make a tackle at practice on December 4. The team said he was expected to make a full recovery, but Thompson said he was scared that he had broken his neck.