A tough year for the Orr football family got tougher with the news that star NFL LB will remain retired.
Zachary Orr is the older brother of Wisconsin ILB Chris Orr. Chris Orr tore his ACL on the first play from scrimmage in Wisconsin’s season opening win over LSU.
Zach played through a shoulder injury during the 2017 NFL seasons. Yet, he recorded 132 total tackles, good for 9th in the NFL. His 97 total tackles was the 6th best mark in the NFL. As a result, Zach Orr earned 2nd Team All-Pro honors in January.
Zach Orr was due a payday. Instead, he received crushing medical news. Apparently his C-1 vertebrae was not fully formed. That meant it was vulnerable to breaking causing paralysis or even death.
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He promptly announced his retirement from pro football. However, Orr changed his mind and suggested an improved health outlook as reason for pursuing an NFL job again.
But the comeback was short-lived. Orr penned an article for the Players’ Tribune on August 18, 2017, explaining the difficult process. In the piece, Orr notes the dichotomy between congratulations for his All Pro honors versus the career death sentence.
"As the days passed, it started to feel like my spinal condition was this thing that was hanging over me … this secret that I was keeping from the world. And after about two weeks, I couldn’t stand it anymore and I decided to announce my retirement to the world."
Zach Orr notes he spoke to multiple doctors but based his retirement on a single medical opinion. Therefore, he elected to seek additional medical advice. A meeting with former Baylor QB Seth Russell motivated Orr to reconsider.
Sure enough, a pair of doctors gave Orr contradictory advice. Namely, that he could resume football activities. As a result, he attempted a return. Orr speaks glowingly about the Ravens organization and his family.
A litany of medical red flags beyond the initial vertebrae issue ultimately doomed the comeback.
"So if a team wasn’t bothered by the C-1, they were bothered by the herniated disc. Or the spots. It was always something….Six teams in person, 11 more over the phone — that’s 17 teams, more than half the league — and I couldn’t get one to give me the green light. Because at the end of the day, my spine was too jacked up."
Orr concludes by formally retiring from pro football and emphasizing a true sense of closure.
Love you big bro !!You know we always got yo back ! You know what this year is ! #ForZ ! And I mean that ! Came in the NFL and DOMINATED !!! https://t.co/PIt3hf5Ip9
— Chris Orr (@Chris_Guwap) August 18, 2017
I have no real rooting interest in this as fan. Due to the Wisconsin connection being somewhat tenuous. It’s based on Zach Orr’s younger brother Chris Orr. Most noteworthy since Chris Orr will be a key contributor to Wisconsin football this fall. Especially relevant because of the season ending injury to Jack Cichy.
Yet, I still care as a generic football fan. I’m glad Zach Orr is retiring. I understand the wisdom in seeking additional medical advice so long as it’s not just “forum shopping.”
New York Jets rookie Jamal Adams may find something honorable in declaring his willingness to die on the football field. I assure you I do not. New Green Bay TE Martellus Bennett has a more sober perspective.
Noteworthy since Bennett has an opportunity in Green Bay after ex-Packer Jermichael Finely suffered a scary neck injury in 2013. The Packers have struggled to adequately fill the position since. The Packers also lost star safety Nick Collins to a career-ending neck injury in 2011.
Football is dangerous. That’s not new. Yet, the NFL doesn’t take player safety seriously. That’s not new either. The NFL can’t threaten 18-game regular seasons and drag its feet on concussion and painkiller issues and claim otherwise.
Related Story: Wisconsin ILB Chris Orr Granted Medical Exemption
As a fan you can only hope every player has a strong support network like Chris Orr and his brother. Consequently, decisions are made not for financial or emotional reasons. But for the true best interest of the player and his family.
Best wishes to Zach Orr in retirement and Chris Orr for a healthy 2017 season for Wisconsin football.