By Alex Woodward
It's pretty safe to say that Andrew Luck retiring at the age of 29 was a shocker for everyone in the sports world...especially 2 weeks before the start of the regular season. Colts fans booed him off the field in his final game at Lucas Oil Stadium and the news sent hot takes all across the twitterverse:
Retiring cause rehabbing is “too hard” is the most millennial thing ever #AndrewLuck
— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow)
August 25, 2019 I am a HUGE #AndrewLuck fan... always have been. But this I cannot defend or justify. NO scenario where retirement is defensible. To do this to his teammates, organization, fans, and the NFL 2 weeks before the season is just not right. I love the guy but this will haunt him.
— Steve Beuerlein (@stevebeuerlein)
August 25, 2019 The MILLIONS he walked away from affects only HIM. The DECISION to walk away just prior to the season affects his TEAM, ORGANIZATION, FANBASE, and the ENTIRE NFL... ALL had invested in him for this year at least. Walk away AFTER the season.
— Steve Beuerlein (@stevebeuerlein)
August 25, 2019 Somehow, this has become a conversation of "is he a quitter or not" or "did he love the game enough"...or as Gottlieb puts it, he's being "soft". All of these narratives contribute to a stigma in the world of professional sports and the real world as well. Talking about mental health is taboo.
Luck didn't retire because he had a career ending injury. It was the culmination of multiple injuries and multiple rehabs. He didn't retire because he was too soft to go one more year. He did it because it was what was right for his short and long term happiness. Anyone who speaks openly about how their physical health has affected their mental health should be commended not chastized. ESPECIALLY a pro football player who has given his heart, blood and soul to a sport and franchise. Luck said he felt "worn down" from the cycle of injury, pain and rehab. Injuries in sports are demoralizing. Rehabs can be a trying time and a real wake up call for athletes. Going through that process must be incredibly challenging especially when you are a quarterback as high profile as Luck and especially when it seems like an endless cycle. Those years of pain and rehab have taken a toll on not only his body but his mind and he spoke openly about both aspects. He admitted that he resented Jacoby Brissett played the game with more passion and fun than he had. That's a tough pill to swallow to realize that your backup has more drive and passion for a game than you do. He's not soft. He just realized his long term physical and mental health are more important than chasing a HOF career, a super bowl ring or even money. There are things bigger than football. There's more to life than making a boatload of money. To anyone who think's Luck is "soft" for retiring; I refer you to this tweet as a reminder of his toughness:
Physical toll on Andrew Luck through 6 NFL seasons:» Torn cartilage in 2 ribs» partially torn abdomen» a lacerated kidney that left him peeing blood» at least 1 concussion» a torn labrum in his throwing shoulder» and this mysterious calf/ankle issue that led to this
— Zak Keefer (@zkeefer)
August 25, 2019 Despite being booed by his home fans on the way to his retirement speech, Luck stood their with grace, he spoke with passion and he answered questions that directly challenged his mental and physical fortitude. It takes guts to walk away from hundreds of millions of dollars. It takes guts to admit publicly on a national stage that you aren't in the right place mentally to continue doing your job with joy and at the best of your ability. It takes guts to do what Andrew Luck did. After all, would you really want the face of your franchise half-assing his way through a season just to get one last year in? I know I wouldn't.
The "soft" comments made by fans and hot take artists are just a continuation of the mental health stigma that has become so normalized in today's society. In sports and especially football, you are considered weak if you admit you are feeling vulnerable. You are considered a threat to the teams success if you say you are unhappy with your situation or that you may be feeling depressed. You risk losing your job if you tell the truth. You risk losing job opportunities if you admit what's going on in your personal life...whether that be your mental or physical health. There is a risk in speaking out.
Look at Josh Gordon. The 2013 leader in receiving yards has had multiple stints in and out of the league because of substance abuse issues. He missed two full seasons because of suspensions and last year he admitted that he was creeping back into that dark place and instead of sticking with the Patriots who went on to win their 3rd Super Bowl in 5 years, he checked himself into rehab. Fans and media criticized the wideout for "quitting on his team again" but in reality, he was doing what's right for himself. Why is that so looked down on?
Look at Darren Waller. The former Ravens tight end has also dealt with substance abuse problems in the past and last week on HBO's Hard Knocks he admitted that he purposely went down the rabbit hole of opioid and cocaine addiction. He said that he was trying to "sabotage" his own career in hopes of being chased out of the league instead of leaving on his own terms. Why? Because he didn't want to be perceived as a quitter. In what logical world is it more sensible to abuse your body and mind with drugs instead of admitting that you need to take time away from your job? Maybe getting suspended was his way of getting help but if he wasn't so scared of the public and internal stigma around mental health...maybe he would have never had the problem to begin with.
Former Ravens fullback LeRon McClain is also an example of the social stigma around mental health but in his case, he's actually going against the grain and speaking out on his problems.
I have to get my head checked. Playing fullback since high school. Its takes too fucking much to do anything. My brain is fucking tired.... @NFL i need some help with this shyt. Dark times and its showing. Fucking help me please!! They dont care I had to get lawyers man!
— LeRon McClain (@LeRon_McClain33)
August 24, 2019 Watch how fast they come to aid if I was som3 QB or anything but no I was fucking fullback that did it all. @NFL I need help and i need the process to speed the fuck up Im about to crash out and its paperwork I dont wanna hear it. Fuck man im done.... Im out
— LeRon McClain (@LeRon_McClain33)
August 24, 2019 In McClain's case I've seen some people call him crazy on Twitter and he acknowledges that certain positions don't get as much attention as others. We have all been made aware of the risks associated with playing football and CTE but why don't we take these players seriously when they speak out on a problem or ask for help? The NFL needs to do better. We as people need to be better.
Nobody is too big or too famous to address their mental health. How many more former players need to die or how many more lawsuits do we need before we as a society start to take mental health and brain injuries seriously in the NFL? I don't think Andrew Luck is suffering from anything as scary as what we've seen from some former players dealing with mental health issues but the fact is, his mental health has been affected by the game and he didn't try and hide that. That's what is getting lost in this whole story. He's not soft. He's a human being. When you look at all the support from current and former players on his decision to retire...it wouldn't surprise me to see more and more players take a similar route. Make it to the league, make your money and then get out when you feel it's the right time.
It's time to end the stigma surrounding mental health. This isn't just a problem in sports. It's a people problem and it should be taken seriously. The NBA is
starting to turn the corner on mental health awareness and let's hope that's a stepping stone for the rest of us.
If you yourself are ever dealing with mental health issues, always remember there is someone to talk to. A friend, colleague, family member or you can always call 1-800-273-8255.
