Former Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Russell Allen suffered a stroke during a game against the Buffalo Bills in December and has decided to retire as a result of it, according to a report on TheMMQB.si.com.
Allen said he thought that he had suffered a concussion after colliding with Bills center Eric Wood early in the second half of the Jaguars’ 27-20 loss at first but he later began experiencing double vision on the sideline.
He paid no mind to it and went back onto the field and actually finished the game.
“It was strange because [the hit on Wood] was so routine,” he said. “We hit, I got off the block, no big deal. I felt something flash — like they say when you get your bell rung. I didn’t lose consciousness. I walked back to the huddle and finished the drive.”
According to the report, there is a dead spot on Allen’s cerebellum about the size of a dime. He is also still having problems with his coordination and will be on blood-thinners for the rest of his life.