Some may be tempted to equate the sudden retirement of linebacker Chris Borland to another brick falling from a crumbling franchise. However, Borland’s retirement has far more to do with the NFL than the 49ers. In fact, Borland told ESPN’s… Extra Point:
At 24, Chris Borland made an incredibly difficult choice, announcing his retirement late Monday. The 49ers linebacker who made a name for himself as a tackling machine, almost earning defensive rookie of the year - despite only playing part of the season, was in-line to see his NFL dreams come true. Patrick Willis retiring earlier this offseason cleared the path for the stud-in-the-making Borland. Yes, the shoes he had to fill were enormous - but Borland had already proved he could step into that role. Instead, the linebacker chose between a quality of life with a clear head, and no worries of concussions, over the chance to play the game he grew up playing.

You can't fault Chris, who insisted his retirement was not a reaction to the 49ers organization in any way. He made the choice to live the life he wanted, and saw the trade off of playing in the NFL, with all the money and fame that goes with it, as to great. Many players of course still choose the opposite. This is a very personal decision.