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Seahawks' Lockett: Doctors told me to quit football or risk death

Rob Leiter / Getty Images Sport / Getty

Seattle Seahawks wide receiver and return man Tyler Lockett took to his Instagram account Thursday to share the story of how his football career nearly came to an end a year ago at the combine when doctors told him he'd risk death if he continued to play.

Around this time last year at the combine. I was told that I'm not be able to perform until some test was ran on me. I took a cat scan that took about 15-20 minutes and it determined if I could ever play football again. It was the longest 15-20 min and scariest 15-20 min of my life. They cleared me to play. Then doctors I had to visit said it's too risky, asked my major and basically said football may be over. Told me if I get hit hard I might die off impact, Etc. I told him I don't believe that God would bring me this far and tease me and then I don't make it. one of the most emotional days of my life. I broke down as soon as the doctor left the office. I don't know if they doubted the God that I serve or if they didn't understand the purpose that I was given. They told me football was too risky. But obviously God showed me something different! As I look back at my first year I went from not even supposed to play again according to some doctors who hadn't seen anything like it to God showing me what He has planned for me in my life! So to everyone in the combine and who will be participating in pro day.... PROVE THEM ALL WRONG.... YOU CAN AND YOU WILL.... JUST BELIEVE.... GOD GOT YOU!!!! #God #Family #BigThankYouToTheDoctorsThatClearedMe #GodIsBigger #Combine #Purpose #Exception #IJustNeedAChance #ThankYouSeahawkFamily

A photo posted by Tyler Lockett (@tdlockett12) on

Lockett doesn't explain how he progressed from doctors telling him football might kill him to getting cleared and eventually drafted by the Seahawks, but it's safe to say he wouldn't be permitted on an NFL field if he hadn't been cleared by league doctors.

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