For every success story in the NFL, there are dozens of players falling short of their goals and dealing with the disappointment that comes along with it. To make it to the NFL, players have to sacrifice many other interests and go all-in on football. So what happens when the game is taken away from them and they are left directionless without an identity?
Former Pittsburgh Steelers S Shamarko Thomas dealt with severe depression and almost succumbed to it after stepping away from football.
“I went through a lot of depression. A lot of trying to figure out who I was,” Thomas said in an interview with Tracy Girard back in April.