It's okay to not be okay.
Every conversation about mental health includes this important statement and the message that tough times don't last, things will get better, and help is available.
The NFL and the rest of society have come a long way in addressing mental health issues. The stigma around him has changed. The “suck it up” and “get through it” mentality is long gone.
Players are encouraged to prioritize their mental well-being. They are advised to seek professional support if necessary. Now they have more resources. The NFL and NFL Players Association in 2019 required each team to have a licensed mental health professional on staff.
In 2020, the Indianapolis Colts launched “Kicking The Stigma,” an initiative by the Irsay family to raise awareness of mental illness. Breaking down barriers surrounding mental health was a personal mission for Colts owner Jim Irsay, who died in May at age 65. His youngest daughter, Kalen Jackson, leads the effort and speaks openly about coping with anxiety.
Many former and current players have spoken out about their personal struggles in an attempt to bring more attention to a topic that used to be a silent disease.
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Former Eagles star Brian Dawkins used the platform of his 2018 Pro Football Hall of Fame induction to speak publicly about his battle with depression. Dawkins overcame suicidal thoughts to become one of the greatest quarterbacks in sports history. Now he's on a crusade to educate people about mental health.
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“I've grown by leaps and bounds because of everything I've been through, and this is one of the things I've had to go through,” Dawkins said on stage after receiving his gold jacket. “When I say passed, it means I've made it to the other side. So for those who are going through this right now, there is hope. You do have hope. There is something on the other side of this. Don't focus on where you are. Don't stay where you are. Keep moving. Keep moving forward.”
Again, it's okay to not be okay.
Unfortunately, this message does not always reach those who need it most.
The NFL mourned the loss of Dallas Cowboys cornerback Marshawn Niland on Thursday. Suburban Dallas police say Niland, 24, was found dead of an apparent suicide after he eluded authorities in his vehicle and fled the scene on foot.
Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott lost his older brother Jace to suicide in 2020. Teammate Solomon Thomas' older sister Ella committed suicide in January 2018 at the age of 24.
Thomas, a first-round draft pick in 2017, just completed his first season with the 49ers. Losing my sister led to anxiety, depression and sadness.
“I wish you knew everything will be (okay),” Thomas wrote on Instagram above a photo of Niland. “I would like you to know that the pain will not last long and how loved you are. I would like you to know how much we want you to stay.”
News of Niland's death hit the league's players and coaches hard.
“Your heart hurts,” Buccaneers veteran Sterling Shepard said in the Tampa Bay locker room. “This game is great and everything; it's one of everyone's childhood dreams to come and play at this level, but this is what people go through in real life. You never know, so (it) puts things in perspective every day when you walk into this building, feeling grateful and just checking in on your brothers and also making sure they're okay mentally. This game is very much about us, and people tend to forget the real life aspect of it. It's painful to see.”
A 2024 second-round draft pick, Niland scored a touchdown after returning a blocked punt Monday night against Arizona. It was a highlight in a seemingly promising career.
Unfortunately, he left.
No one should have to suffer alone, there is plenty of help available and it is okay when something is not right.
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