Tackle Joe Staley, who spent 13 seasons in the NFL after the San Francisco 49ers made him a first-round draft pick in 2007, had mixed emotions about retiring. He still had a strong desire to play football, and still loves the game, but felt it was the right decision for his health and family.
"It's a happy day and sad day," Staley told reporters via a video conference call on Tuesday. "Very mixed emotions. ... Obviously, I did not want to quit playing football. I still have a huge love for it. It's going to be a weird transition going into retirement because it wasn't a thing where I was like, 'OK, this is going to be my last year. I'm going to be done.' But it was just the right decision for me."
Staley admits that the decision is more comfortable right now because there is no football happening. However, retirement may finally hit him as his former teammates begin reporting to training camp — assuming that actually happens around the time it usually does.
Staley mentioned "a deteriorating neck condition" in the retirement letter he posted on social media. General manager John Lynch revealed on Tuesday morning that Staley played through the injury during the 49ers' playoff run, including the Super Bowl. The veteran tackle never considered not playing in those games, though.
"Joe never really told us about them because he said, 'What am I going to do? Not play in the playoffs? Now play in the Super Bowl? I was playing. So, I figured I'm not going to tell anyone,'" Lynch said during the KNBR interview. "And then it kind of revealed itself (during) Super Bowl week, in talking with Joe. And then he went and played, and played great.
"But then after, he went and got opinions, and we helped him in that process. He started seeing some things, some realities of kind of what had gone on in his body."
That was on top of the fractured fibula and broken finger Staley suffered earlier during the season, injuries that forced him to miss nine games.
Staley shared that his neck injuries, which started toward the end of the regular season, worsened as the playoffs progressed. His health hit a low-point leading to the Super Bowl. What should have been the pinnacle of his career, because of how good the 49ers were, instead, was difficult for Staley.
"For me, personally, it was really, really difficult because of the injuries," he said.
So days before the 49ers were set to make their first selection of the 2020 NFL Draft, Staley informed the team that he had decided to retire.
"I tried to be as open and honest as I could during the whole time because it was really important for me to make sure, whatever the decision was that I was going to make, that I wasn't screwing them over," said Staley.
He knew the team had decisions to make, and his availability, or lack thereof, would impact those decisions, especially when it came to the draft.
Lynch and the 49ers had held out hope that Staley would return, but upon learning that wasn't going to happen, the team jumped into action to trade for Washington's seven-time Pro Bowl tackle, Trent Williams.
"I couldn't be more excited for Trent to be with the Niners now," Staley told reporters, "just knowing that a player with his ability is going to take over that left side, and hopefully not miss a beat at all. He's a tremendous player.
"I'm really excited that everything kind of worked out on all ends. I'm happy with the decision I made for me and my family. I'm happy with the decision the Niners made for the franchise. I can't wait to see what they do this upcoming year."
As for the disappointment of once again failing to win a Super Bowl, Staley has mostly moved on. But he does wish his career had ended differently.
"It sucks, it really does. I mean, it sucks to not be able to win that," Staley shared. "I've watched since I was five years old, watching Super Bowls, and just the joy that it brings to players, being able to hoist that trophy up in the air. Just kind of reflect on the journey that it took to get there, and how meaningful that would have been for me and just everybody on the football team. There's so many different people that deserve that over the years.
"But it wasn't in the cards. I gave everything I had to the game of football, and I definitely don't leave my head hung, in that respect. I think I did everything I could do, but it just didn't happen, for whatever reasons. It just didn't happen for me, and it didn't happen for us. You know, that's frustrating, but it's not something that's going to torment me for the rest of my life."
Staley hopes to remain involved with the organization and has already had preliminary discussions with the 49ers on that.
Said Staley: "I don't really know what that's going to entail, but I'm very interested in all that stuff."
It isn't his only option, though. He revealed that media outlets have also reached out to Staley about potential opportunities. For now, he plans to take a year off from football and spend it with his family.
Staley admits that he was overwhelmed by the responses he received from the team and fans after announcing his retirement.
"I mean, I'm a lineman, and it's our job not to be noticed," Staley explained. "And it's our job to just kind of do our job and do the grunt work. ... Playing for that franchise meant a ton to me, and it really meant a lot for them to show all that appreciation."
How does Staley want the 49ers fan base to remember him?
"I don't want to be remembered [as] a guy that -- a couple of plays here and there," he responded. "I just want to be remembered as a guy that gave his all every single day. ... I hope they would respect the work that I put in, and know that I gave it my all, and did everything I could to try to better the team, and try to do everything I could to help the team win."
