Glen Coffee on Sudden Retirement: ‘I’ve Already Told Christ It’s Time to Go’

Glen Coffee’s stunning retirement Friday sparked a lot of speculation as to the reason — including guesses that Coffee had failed a drug test or been involved in a spat with 49ers coach Mike Singletary. Turns out, the truth is much less sinister: Saturday, Coffee told Matt Barrows of The Sacramento Bee that he’s headed back to school to complete his undergraduate degree and pursue a master’s degree, a decision rooted in his deep religious beliefs.

“Actually when I look back I feel I never should have entered the draft in the first place,” said Coffee, who left the University of Alabama after his junior year. “Football was no longer my dream. I found Christ in college. It changed my views on everything. But I still was a football player because it was expected of me, it was something I did all my life. I was basically wasting the [49ers’] time.”

“His will, I felt, wasn’t football. I felt like I forced football because everyone expected me to play football. He told me a long time ago to walk away from the game.”

The 23-year-old’s discussion with Barrows seemingly squashed the possibility that he’d go back on his retirement announcement.

“I’ve already told Christ it’s time to go. I’ve already rung the bell. That’s not going to happen,” Coffee told Barrows.

San Francisco had been counting on Coffee to help spell starting RB Frank Gore, just as Coffee did during his rookie season. In 14 games last year — including two starts — Coffee carried the ball 83 times for 226 yards and a touchdown. Between Coffee and rookie Anthony Dixon, the 49ers were hoping to limit the beating Gore took in 2010. Most of that challenge will now fall on Dixon, unless the 49ers make a move to add another running back.

After Coffee’s sudden announcement Friday, Ian Rapoport of the Boston Herald tweeted, “Having covered 49ers RB Glen Coffee for 3 years, not surprised he retired. He has a higher call. Wouldn’t shock me if he headed to ministry.”

Coffee didn’t specifically say that’s in his plans after he returns to school at Alabama — he’s just six hours shy of his undergraduate degree in consumer affairs — but he didn’t rule it out either.

“There’s going to be people that understand and there’s going to be people that don’t understand and don’t care to understand,” Coffee told Barrows. “They’re going to feed off that negativity. That’s life.”