The former Pittsburgh Steelers linebacker explains his shocking decision to retire

Ex Pittsburgh Steelers Defenseman Monte Pottebaum made the surprising decision to retire just three days before the team’s 2023 training camp. It’s rare for someone to retire halfway through training camp, let alone before putting on their pads. However, Pottebaum is one of the few exceptions to this rule.

So why did Pottebaum retire? Appearing on the SHRP podcast, Pottebaum explained that pain and injuries and a desire to spend more time with his family led to the decision to step away from the game. At one point, Pottebaum couldn’t punch someone without pain shooting through his body.

“There was some pain associated with it, and it became more and more intense as I progressed through college,” Pottebaum said. “It got to the point where every time I hit someone badly, I would feel a shooting pain in my neck, in my fingertips, all over my arm.

Pottebaum instead chose to retire rather than deal with the pain. He stated that he felt the pain affected his play on the pitch and he often thought about it when he was playing. Neck injuries like the one Pottebaum described have ended careers prematurely, including those of players like Ryan Shazier and Leighton Vander Esch.

Instead, Pottebaum moved into coaching, where he is an assistant coach at West Lyon High School in Iowa, his alma mater. The former University of Iowa star grew up rooting for the Steelers and called it a “dream” to have the chance to play for them, but circumstances quickly turned his dream into a nightmare, forcing him to hang up his cleats.

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