9 Aug 1997: Linebacker Gary Plummer of the San Francisco 49ers in action against the Seattle Seahawks during a pre-season game at 3Com Park in San Franciscon, California. The 49ers defeated the Seahawks 21-17. Mandatory Credit: Otto Greule /Allsport

Former Super Bowl champion says he suffered more than 2,000 concussions during his NFL career

This is unsettling.

Gary Plummer, who was notably a linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers, claims to have suffered over 2,000 concussions.

A 12-year NFL career would obviously come at some cost, but this seems other worldly.

Of note, Plummer retired in 1998 with 1,029 tackles, 4.5 sacks, six interceptions, and a Super Bowl XXIX ring with the 49ers.

Here he is discussing it, during an appearance on The 49ers Insiders Podcast:

"If you're not getting at least 10 of those a game, as a middle linebacker in the NFL, that means you didn't play that day," Plummer said. "I played 250 games. So (with) at least 10 a game, that's 2,500 concussions."

"After Junior, my wife said, 'Dude, you got to do something; I don't want you to be the next Junior Seau.'...

"It was not overnight, by any stretch of the imagination," Plummer said. "It was a long, slow process. But it wasn't a long, slow, arduous process. It's not like it was difficult to go to yoga. It's not like it was difficult to go outside and listen to classical music while gardening.

"But I felt myself not only getting better at the time I was doing those things, but it then became the cumulative effect of, 'Hey, there've been a few days where I didn't have a headache.' Or, 'There've been a few days where I've been able to sleep through the night.' And those were momentous occasions for me. It's been amazing that I literally feel like a new man."

Obviously, incredibly scary stuff. Plummer is only 58.

(H/T For the Win)