Pittsburgh Steelers

Former Steelers, Redskins WR Antwaan Randle El regrets playing in the NFL

Published Jan. 19, 2016 3:46 p.m. ET

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Despite a nine-year NFL career that included 4,467 receiving yards, 15 touchdowns and a Super Bowl victory, former Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins wide receiver Antwaan Randle El wouldn't play football if he could go back in time.

In a series from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Randle El expressed his regret with his decision to play football professionally, and wished he would have chosen a different route for his professional life.

Randle El Told the Gazette he is dealing with several difficulties in his retirement. He has difficulty walking down stairs, and explained that it is actually easier for him to walk down the stairs sideways. But in addition to his physical detriments, Randle El also says he is struggling mentally.

In 2013, Randle El sued the NFL, alleging that the league "has done everything in its power to hide the issue and mislead players concerning the risks associated with concussions," according to The Village Voice. In 2015, Randle El was one of the 5,000 players that received a cut of the $900 million settlement in the NFL concussion lawsuit.

According to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's project, Randle El helped start a Christian high school in Ashburn, Va., where he serves as the athletic director. Originally, the school, called the Virginia Academy, had a football team, but after two years Randle El chose not to fund the program due to the expenses. But as an added bonus, Randle El knows the decision is ultimately protecting high school-aged kids.

With NFL's growing safety concerns, Randle El believes it is a possibility the NFL will no longer exist down the line.

Go read the full Post-Gazette piece to see the rest of what Randle El had to say. It's worth it.

Tommy Chalk writes about the NFL and NHL for FOX Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @Tommy_Chalk