Glen Coffee, known to most NFL fans as a talented rusher who retired too soon and to fantasy owners as a valuable handcuff to Frank Gore, spent one season with the San Francisco running backs as a productive backup running back before abruptly retiring after his rookie season.
At the time of his retirement, Coffee told The Sacramento Bee, "It was a struggle for a long time. Actually when I look back I feel I never should have entered the draft in the first place. Football was no longer my dream. I found Christ in college. It changed my views on everything. But I still was a football player because it was expected of me, it was something I did all my life. I was basically wasting the (49ers') time."
Now, according to Deadspin.com, Coffee is set to graduate from the U.S. Army's Airborne school in Fort Benning, Georgia today. Coffee said, "I figured that if I'm able, the Lord's blessed me with an able body while I'm young, to get out there and get dirty."
In 2011, a year after he retired, Coffee did another interview with The Bee in which he further clarified his decision to leave the NFL.
"As far as the NFL goes, I have a hard time putting it like this because it sounds kind of harsh, but I feel like it ruins a lot of lives more than anything else. And that goes for people who have short careers in the NFL and long careers in the NFL. Because what happens is they see that as success. And money throughout your life has nothing to with your salvation in Christ. A lot of players get that money. And they chase that money, man, and I feel that they're really missing the true meaning of life. So I'm constantly afraid for the NFL and the players because kids growing up nowadays, they see that as the end all, be all. And that's just not the case."
Deadspin reports that since hanging up the cleats Coffee has dabbled in boxing, gotten baptized, had weapons charges levied against him and later dropped, and played a little semi-pro football.
His inspiration to join the military? A Bruce Willis film called Tears of the Sun.
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