From the Washington Post website: link
Chris Samuels first took to the gridiron at age 4, when his older brothers let him play on their youth football team. He loved throwing, catching and running with the ball and plowing down opponents. He excelled in high school and later at the University of Alabama, where he received a full scholarship and played on the offensive line. In 2000, he was drafted in the first round by the Washington Redskins. Now Samuels, 32, is facing the prospect of what will come next. After 10 years in the NFL, during which he started in 136 regular-season and three postseason games and earned six trips to the Pro Bowl, he recently retired, concerned that a bad hit could exacerbate a childhood condition that could leave him paralyzed. Samuels will be feted by his friends and teammates at a retirement party Saturday. He's interning with the Redskins in the hopes of becoming a coach. He lives in Northern Virginia.
"I have always wanted to coach football once I was done playing it. The thing I'm trying to figure out now is whether it will be high school, college or pro. I'm in a great situation to where I'm actually working with the Redskins. Coach [Mike] Shanahan allowed me to stick around this off-season, learn from the coaches there. ... At this point in my life, I'm not chasing the money. I just want to coach the game and teach football. I prayed about it. I told the Lord I was just going to finish this internship and then wherever the good Lord puts me, that's where I will go."
Chris Samuels first took to the gridiron at age 4, when his older brothers let him play on their youth football team. He loved throwing, catching and running with the ball and plowing down opponents. He excelled in high school and later at the University of Alabama, where he received a full scholarship and played on the offensive line. In 2000, he was drafted in the first round by the Washington Redskins. Now Samuels, 32, is facing the prospect of what will come next. After 10 years in the NFL, during which he started in 136 regular-season and three postseason games and earned six trips to the Pro Bowl, he recently retired, concerned that a bad hit could exacerbate a childhood condition that could leave him paralyzed. Samuels will be feted by his friends and teammates at a retirement party Saturday. He's interning with the Redskins in the hopes of becoming a coach. He lives in Northern Virginia.
"I have always wanted to coach football once I was done playing it. The thing I'm trying to figure out now is whether it will be high school, college or pro. I'm in a great situation to where I'm actually working with the Redskins. Coach [Mike] Shanahan allowed me to stick around this off-season, learn from the coaches there. ... At this point in my life, I'm not chasing the money. I just want to coach the game and teach football. I prayed about it. I told the Lord I was just going to finish this internship and then wherever the good Lord puts me, that's where I will go."
