Former Montana State LB declines Montana Hall of Fame bid, says football ‘destroyed my life’
By Adam Spencer
Published:
Normally, earning a spot in the Hall of Fame is a great thing for athletes, but former Montana State and New York Giants LB Corey Widmer has decided to decline his invitation to the Montana Football Hall of Fame.
By now, the link between concussions and football is an evident one, and that damage suffered by Widmer during his career is a big reason he declined the invitation.
Via an AP report, Widmer said football “destroyed my life” and then told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle that he doesn’t think the money and fame were worth it:
”I’m 49 years old, depressed to the Nth degree but have a lot of money and some people might say it’s still worth it. I just tell them to watch what they wish for,” Widmer told the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. ”If someone could’ve explained all of this to me when I was 14, I would’ve given it all back in a heartbeat. I would’ve wished for something else.”
More athletes are retiring early and others aren’t playing football at all. Still, this is a big decision from Widmer, as it makes a very powerful statement.
With the way things are going, more athletes may follow Widmer’s lead in the future.
Adam is a daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting expert. A 2012 graduate of the University of Missouri, Adam now covers all 16 SEC football teams. He is the director of DFS, evergreen and newsletter content across all Saturday Football brands.
