A 38-year old man sits inside a small High School gym in Wisconsin watching his son and his son’s peers play basketball. It’s a sunny summer day on the outside, but air conditioning keeps the gym cool on the inside. You can hear a slight murmur from the crowd and the dribble of a basketball, but little else. From most accounts, this is a perfectly comfortable Sunday afternoon. But this man isn’t one of those accounts. He fidgets and sweats as if he was being placed in an oven. The man complains of hearing ringing, but no refs are blowing their whistle, no buzzers are going off. The other parents attempt to make small talk with the man, but he quickly feels overwhelmed and is forced to politely excuse himself. He gingerly steps down the wooden bleachers, looking as uncoordinated as someone who just finished a weekend bender. The man pauses at the door before reaching the hallway and watches his son fire up a shot as the first half nears a close.
We’re talking about the father of a student on the court, but also a former pro football player. The ringing stems from one of the many concussions he suffered as a pro football player. He’s not alone here. When 2,500 retired NFL football players were polled, over 1,500 of them had suffered at least one concussion as a pro football player. The long-term effects of these are undoubtedly detrimental.
One who suffers from concussions, especially multiple ones, is more likely to suffer from depression later in life. It shouldn’t be a surprise that a recent study revealed that 87% of former NFL players suffer from depression. The shift in mood swings, poor sleep habits, and general down feelings that depression brings have serious implications on their overall well being.
It’s not just mental either. Strength Planet says, “according to the NFL Players Association, the average life expectancy of an NFL player is 58 years of age.” The life expectancy of the average American is 76 years old. 15-20% of former NFL players suffer arthritis so bad that it hampers their ability to perform even the simplest tasks. And it’s not just NFL players. 20% of professional boxers suffer from the aforementioned chronic traumatic brain injury (TBI). TBI is amongst the world’s leaders in causing death and disability.
Sports fans often focus on the money that pro athletes make, calling them extremely lucky, overpaid, and more. They often overlook the physical stress that a pro football career places on the body and the psyche, and the long lasting effects these have through one’s entire life.
The man returns to the gym refreshed and with a pair of sun glasses in time to catch a good chunk of the second half. He watches the rest of the game standing alone, leaned against the side of the bleachers. After the game ends, the man accepts the attention his past profession brings him. Almost every parent and kid from the visiting team stops by where he is standing and meets him before leaving the gym. He is visibly uncomfortable again, but he welcomes everyone with a warm smile and contributes to the dialogue what he can.
The man we’re speaking of is Al Toon, a retired NFL wide receiver and a former Wisconsin Badger star. Having made three Pro Bowls and even leading the league in catches one year, Toon had a great career on the field. Unfortunately, it only lasted until he was 29 years old, all due to over 10 concussions suffered through the course of his career. A worthy sacrifice?
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