Neck injury ends Strong’s career

KIRKLAND — Right until the very end, Mack Strong was too tough to acknowledge the pain.

He sat in front of microphones at the Seattle Seahawks’ practice facility Monday afternoon and refused to let the tears flow, even in announcing that his 15-year football career was over. After suffering a neck injury in Sunday’s loss to Pittsburgh, Strong walked into a press conference, sat down and effectively hung up his cleats. But he wasn’t going to let himself cry.

“It’s a no-brainer,” he said of his retirement while choking back tears with his typical grit. “I’ve given my all, every ounce, to football. I feel like I gave every ounce I had, so I have no regrets.”

Strong, 36, woke up Sunday morning with a kink in his neck and some numbness in his left hand. As he had done for 15 NFL seasons, he shook off the pain and took the field.

But early in the first quarter of Sunday’s game, Strong was involved in a routine collision with an opponent and felt even more numbness through his entire body. Eventually, the sensation went away and Strong returned to the field — but not for long.

His next collision turned out to be the final one of his career, as Strong came off the field again and never returned. He initially thought he had a neck stinger but was eventually diagnosed with a vertebrae injury called a herniated disc that involves a pinched nerve on his spinal cord.

“In light of what happened earlier this year with (Kevin Everett) in Buffalo, the first thing that came to mind was: I hope this stops,” Strong said, referring to the Bills tight end who suffered partial paralysis due to a neck injury last month. “It was really scary, especially (when it’s) something you’ve never felt before.

“I’ve felt sprained ankles, sprained knees, bruises, dislocations. I’ve felt it all. But this was something different. It was foreign.”

Strong showed no signs of pain during his press conference. He’s expected to undergo more tests but said that it’s doubtful he’ll need surgery.

Strong talked about the neck injury for more than four minutes during Monday’s press conference before announcing his retirement. He was asked how the injury would affect his future in football, and Strong immediately became emotional.

“There’s a lot more to life than football,” said Strong, who will see his streak of 117 consecutive games come to an end this Sunday night against New Orleans. “I’ve got a wife and two kids, and there’s nothing more important than being able to spend time with them. If I hadn’t been able to walk off that field …

“I’m just glad that I was able to make that decision.”

Coach Mike Holmgren, speaking before Strong’s official announcement, said he always appreciated Strong’s toughness and selflessness.

“He was always the consummate professional,” Holmgren said, adding that Leonard Weaver will take over as the starting fullback.

In announcing his retirement, Strong wore a fitting T-shirt that read: “No Pain. No Plane.”

“I don’t know where I got it, but that is the way I feel,” Strong said, looking down at the words across his chest. “Life is not easy, no matter what you’re doing — whether you’re playing fullback for the Seattle Seahawks or working a 9-to-5 job stocking groceries.

“There’s a certain amount of pain involved in order to reach our goals and destiny in life, and a long time ago I decided I was willing to pay that price.”

Strong joined the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent in 1993, spending that season on the practice squad. The scrappy Georgia native made his first start the following year and played 13 more seasons. Only Joe Nash, with 15, has spent more seasons on the Seahawks’ official roster (Strong’s first year doesn’t count because he was on the practice squad).

On Sunday, Strong passed Steve Largent for second in franchise history with 201 career games played.

“I feel like I’ve played a couple careers,” Strong said. “I’ve been able to be a part of incredible teams. A lot of memories coming into this building.”

When asked about what he will miss most about playing football, Strong did not hesitate to answer.

“The relationships,” he said. “That’s easy. The thing that makes me emotional is remembering all the players, tons and tons of players I’ve gotten to know over the years.”

Strong’s teammates had left the practice complex before his Monday announcement, but his effect on them has been well-chronicled over the years. Strong serves as one of six team captains, and Pro Bowl running back Shaun Alexander often credited him as being the main reason for his record-breaking 2005 season.

Weaver also paid his respects to Strong during the preseason, saying, “To play 15 years as a fullback … that speaks volumes about Mack.”

Since taking over as a full-time player in 1995, Strong missed just four games. He was one of the most durable players in Seahawks history.

Strong will always be known for his unselfishness, putting the needs of others in front of his own. That was true even after suffering the injury in Sunday’s game. When he arrived back in Seattle later that night, he had to take his wife, Zoe, to the emergency room because of a severe headache. Once again, his pain was unimportant.

Strong, who has two sons, has contemplated retirement for three or four years now. So his Monday announcement came with a sense of relief in that he won’t have to make a decision after this season.

“I don’t have to worry about some sign,” Strong said Monday. “This was my sign.”

A deeply religious man who read the Bible as part of his weekly pre-game routine, Strong said he was “blessed” to have so many productive years in the NFL.

“This has been an incredible part of my life,” he said. “It’s opened many doors for me and my family and my friends. I have no regrets. I’m just very grateful I got to play as long as I did. But now it’s time to move on to bigger and better things.

“Life gets better. Preferably, I won’t be looking back five, 10 years from now saying, ‘Those were the best years of my life, when I played in the NFL for the Seattle Seahawks.’ My best days are ahead of me.”

And the days behind one of the toughest players in team history won’t soon be forgotten.

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