Former 49ers running back Glen Coffee abruptly walked away from his NFL career in August, saying he wanted to focus on his Christian faith. Coffee still isn't enamored with the NFL lifestyle, but he won't rule out returning to the game. He is taking online classes at the University of Alabama, where he starred before going to the 49ers in the third round of the 2009 draft. Coffee's reasons for quitting have baffled many, but he told The Sacramento Bee this week that the NFL "ruins a lot of lives" and that he takes his cues from "the Lord." "People just keep asking me (why he quit the NFL), and it's like, 'OK, why are you asking me that?' " Coffee said. "And their No. 1 reason -- their only reason -- is money. It saddens me, man. If your only focus is money, you're going to be sorely disappointed. A lot of people, they chase money. And when they get the money they think, 'OK, what now? There's got to be more than what I'm feeling now?' ... "As far as the NFL goes, I have a hard time putting it like this because it sounds kind of harsh, but I feel like it ruins a lot of lives more than anything else. And that goes for people who have short careers in the NFL and long careers in the NFL. Because what happens is they see that as success. And money throughout your life has nothing to with your salvation in Christ. "A lot of players get that money. And they chase that money, man, and I feel that they're really missing the true meaning of life. So I'm constantly afraid for the NFL and the players, because kids growing up nowadays, they see that as the end all, be all. And that's just not the case."