With athletes' mental health become a more and more prominent focus — as it should be — in today's coverage of the sports we love, it's important to recognize the bravery of those who open up and share their story. But it's also important that we should take the time to consider those who helped teammates, colleagues and friends during their time of need, and that's exactly what star wide receiver A.J. Brown did when he discussed a rough time in his life during the 2020 season.
On the surface, you couldn't tell what Brown was going through, as the then-second-year Titan posted 70 catches for 1,075 yards and 11 touchdowns. It's worth noting that this, in part, is why mental health awareness is so important, as these issues can very easily remain hidden while seriously afflicting someone in various facets of life. In a video posted to social media, Brown revealed that just a year ago today — which would be in November of 2020, as Brown had strong game after strong game for Tennessee — he had considered taking his own life.
One part of the video was particularly important for the purposes of this video — "I just want to encourage everyone to protect your mental, talk to someone, get things off your chest..." — as Brown then shared who one of the key people had been for him to help get through his dark moments. Elijah Moore, Brown's teammate at Ole Miss in 2018, got a shoutout for his role as a helping hand and a supportive friend throughout his friend's struggles.
"He's more than family," Brown said. "That's my brother. I love him."
Moore's NFL career is off to a promising start. It took him a little while to get going, but he has nearly 200 yards and three touchdowns over his last three weeks, even in the Jets' inconsistent offense with poor quarterback play. But while his production on the field is important, it pales in comparison to how much he was able to support a friend in need with life-changing actions.
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