PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Brandon Brooks was much more than just a dominant offensive lineman.
The Super Bowl-winning right guard announced his retirement from the NFL on Wednesday after 10 years. At different points throughout his six years in Philadelphia, Brooks was renowned for opening up about his mental health and his battle with anxiety.
“[There weren’t] a whole lot of athletes speaking of that [in 2016], and for me, I’ve always wanted to be truthful and upfront about what I was going through,” said Brooks.
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He wanted others to not be embarrassed and know that it’s OK to get help. In the years that followed, it has become more and more common for professional athletes — these “modern-day gladiators,” as Brooks called them — to open up. They are humans with real-life emotions who go through the same daily obstacles as anyone else, he said.
“I love the direction that’s going, and I’m glad it’s an open thing, a public thing, and people will feel that they have a platform and a voice to speak on it,” he said.
Brooks’ offensive line-mate and close friend, right tackle Lane Johnson, revealed similar struggles last year. Johnson missed three games this season due to anxiety and depression.
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When Johnson returned from Oklahoma following time away from the team, Brooks visited him.
“I really didn’t have to say anything at first. We just sat there, man. Sometimes no words are necessarily needed. We sat there, and,” Brooks paused, collecting his thoughts, “and really just kind of reflected on life. The ups and downs, the struggles, the things you go through. It wasn’t even a football conversation at that point.
“I think that made our bond a lot closer, a lot stronger. At the end of the day, just wanted to make sure he was all right. Make sure that the person that he is, he continues to [be].”
Brooks’ retirement press conference lasted 40 minutes, and it began with a seven-minute prepared statement, essentially a love letter to his peers as well as the teams and cities he played for. He closed the letter with a quote from Winston Churchill.
“If I could leave you with anything, it would be this: Defeat is never fatal. Victory is never final. It’s the courage that counts.”
Brooks showed a lot of courage over the past six years. So, what’s next for him? He said he’s applying to Penn business school. Philadelphia will remain his home.
