Earlier this week, Seattle Seahawks safety Kam Chancellor stated his intentions to walk away from football due to a severe neck injury.
However, Chancellor never once mentioned the word “retire” in his lengthy statement via Twitter, and there’s 12 million reasons why he won’t file for retirement anytime soon.
Chancellor, 30, signed a three-year extension last August featuring $12 million in guarantees in the event he suffered an injury. If the veteran defender chose to file his retirement papers, he’d forfeit these injury guarantees while also potentially being forced to repay part of his $7.5 million signing bonus to the Seahawks.
Understandably, Chancellor isn’t going to do Seattle any favors and walk away from that much money, leaving the organization in a tenuous situation.
As one of the best players in franchise history, the Seahawks have handled this situation patiently and delicately, hoping Chancellor could pass a physical and gain medical clearance to resume playing. But with his neck showing no improvement, Seattle will have to bite the bullet and pay an expensive toll for a player who likely will not see the field again.
On the hook for his injury guarantees, the Seahawks should offer Chancellor an opportunity to transition into an assistant coaching role moving forward.
Known for his positive impact in Seattle’s locker room as much as his hard hits on the field, former Seahawks defensive coordinator Dan Quinn indicated in an interview with ESPN 710 Seattle that Chancellor would excel as a coach due to his ability to connect with others.
Hopeful Chancellor’s next chapter would involve a leadership role, Quinn said, “Whether that’s running his own business, if that involves coaching one day – which I think he would be excellent at – whatever it is, my hope is that he has a chance to impact people. Because that is one of his most amazing gifts, the connection he has with others.”
Whether instructing teammates at practice or volunteering his time coaching at youth football camps, people tend to gravitate to Chancellor and follow his lead. As Quinn noted, when he’s in your presence, “you feel special.”
Seattle lost a great deal of talent this offseason, but Chancellor’s absence will hurt the most due to his leadership on and off the field. By offering him a chance to join the coaching staff, he would remain a positive voice for Seahawks players to adhere to while providing a mentor for young safeties like Delano Hill and Tedric Thompson.
While such a deal would be complicated and the franchise would have to tread carefully, Seattle could also potentially pursue an injury settlement agreeing to pay Chancellor his guaranteed money as an assistant coach. Under these terms, the Seahawks may be able to generate much-needed salary cap relief while staying in good graces with a franchise icon.
Seattle’s decision to extend Chancellor last year backfired horribly, but both parties can still make the most of an unfortunate situation. Even if he declined the opportunity, offering the legendary safety a coaching position would be a great gesture by the team to maintain a positive working relationship in the future.
