NFL quarterback Dak Prescott, wide receiver A.J. Brown, and tight end Hayden Hurst have helped break down stigma by sharing their experiences with depression, anxiety, and more.
By Christina VogtMedically Reviewed by Seth Gillihan, PhD
Reviewed: January 19, 2023
Given that nearly 1 in 5 U.S. adults are dealing with anxiety, depression, or another mental health condition, it’s not surprising that many household names — including celebrated athletes in the National Football League (NFL) — have struggled with their own psychological issues, too.
NFL players face an increased risk for depression, confusion, aggression, and other mental health challenges, according to an article published in the American Psychological Association (APA)’s Monitor on Psychology. Blame lies in part with the repeated head injuries so common in collision sports like football. Those head injuries, in turn, can cause chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease, according to research published in July 2022 in Frontiers in Neurology.