Yahoo Sports NFLPA president encourages players to focus on mental health by expanding interests
The NFL Players Association president is encouraging players to focus on their mental health by challenging them to "explore one new interest or passion" this offseason.
NFLPA president J.C. Tretter penned an open letter to NFL players noting the importance of expanding one's identities beyond the singular focus of being a professional football player.
NFLPA president urges expanding identity
Tretter, center for the Cleveland Browns, urged players to "invest in our mental health by expanding your identities beyond football." He noted a direct link between mental and emotional well-being in identifying with something bigger than one's profession, or even bigger than one aspect of identity.
"NFL players are often seen as the pinnacle of masculinity," Tretter wrote, "and because caring about our own mental well-being and seeking support has not historically been associated with masculinity, too many of us do not prioritize that aspect of our health. It’s an area that if we proactively address while we’re in the NFL, including utilizing the resources available to us, we’ll be much better positioned to handle life after football."
The impact of identifying too much with one profession isn't fully realized until a player retires. Studies show professional athletes face an "identity crisis" upon retirement and struggle to adjust to their new life. In the case of an NFL player, they go from working around-the-clock to win football games to trying to find a purpose every day in retirement. In the most serious cases, former players talk about depression, eating disorders and substance abuse in retirement.
"Football players are at a high risk for losing this sense of identity after they retire, because for most of our lives, the praise and admiration we’ve received has been because of football," Tretter said. "Our careers give us recognition, pride and a sense of purpose. But it can be dangerous if being a “famous” football player is the only source of those things."
Most players don't have post-retirement jobs lined up, though there is increasingly a push for players to work toward their post-retirement pursuits while playing.
NFLPA opportunities for players to expand interests
The NFLPA has programs focused on building relationships and interests outside of football.
"The more we can expand the way we see ourselves while we continue to play, the easier our transition to life after football will be physically, mentally, financially and emotionally," Tretter wrote.
There's an externship program — similar to a college internship program — that places players with companies so they can see what the different industries entail. It ran this year from Feb. 8 to March 5 in the technology, communications, real estate, advocacy and event management professions, to name a few.
The Trust program addresses three "pillars" of life in personal and business development, health and wellness resources, and community and connection opportunities. It offers former NFL players benefits such as tuition reimbursement and brain and body assessments.
"This offseason, I challenge our players to explore one new interest or passion, whether that’s by taking a class, shadowing someone with an interesting career path or getting involved with a meaningful philanthropic cause," Tretter wrote.
Tretter wrote he was encouraged by leaders who were speaking up about their mental health, a difficult thing to be vulnerable about.
More from Yahoo Sports:
