1 00:00:03,240 --> 00:00:07,680 Speaker 1: Welcome to the NFL Legends Podcast, an NFL podcast for 2 00:00:07,840 --> 00:00:12,840 Speaker 1: the players, by the players. Here is your host, four 3 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:22,919 Speaker 1: teen year NFL veteran and Hall of Famer A. Nius Williams. So, 4 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:26,439 Speaker 1: welcome back to the NFL Legends Podcast. This is Dr 5 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:29,440 Speaker 1: Kira Dockery sitting in for A. Nius Williams, and we're 6 00:00:29,440 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 1: talking about mental health with Eddie Mason and Ron Brewer. 7 00:00:33,120 --> 00:00:36,720 Speaker 1: So welcome back, guys. Um. You know, we sort of 8 00:00:37,920 --> 00:00:41,760 Speaker 1: ended our last conversation really starting to talk about the 9 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:47,360 Speaker 1: importance and really the difficulty about asking for help really 10 00:00:48,040 --> 00:00:50,279 Speaker 1: for our guys and our population. I wanted to kind 11 00:00:50,280 --> 00:00:52,480 Speaker 1: of start up with that again because I just think 12 00:00:52,479 --> 00:00:55,240 Speaker 1: it's such an important thing and I wanted to maybe 13 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:58,720 Speaker 1: get your thoughts about why is that, you know, so difficult? 14 00:00:59,000 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: Do you think, Well, I know, the first time we 15 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:07,920 Speaker 1: had the pleasure of doing the first podcast, you know, 16 00:01:07,959 --> 00:01:10,399 Speaker 1: Iran said something that's really profound. You know a lot 17 00:01:10,400 --> 00:01:13,959 Speaker 1: of times, you know, we're taught for so many years 18 00:01:14,040 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 1: to not show weakness, to only show strength, you know, 19 00:01:17,280 --> 00:01:21,360 Speaker 1: to carry this bravado on the field, and then when 20 00:01:21,360 --> 00:01:23,720 Speaker 1: we come off the field, it's kind of like sometimes 21 00:01:23,720 --> 00:01:25,960 Speaker 1: you have to know how to turn that off. And 22 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:27,759 Speaker 1: I think ultimately, at the end of the day, one 23 00:01:27,800 --> 00:01:31,000 Speaker 1: life does present all of these different challenges. You know, 24 00:01:31,120 --> 00:01:35,480 Speaker 1: you kind of have this, uh it's superhero mentality that 25 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:37,600 Speaker 1: there you know, there's nothing that I can't deal with 26 00:01:37,720 --> 00:01:40,080 Speaker 1: until you can't deal with it, and then it's kind 27 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:42,560 Speaker 1: of like, now what do you do? And I think 28 00:01:42,560 --> 00:01:46,160 Speaker 1: it's important that, uh, that we all understand it's men 29 00:01:46,200 --> 00:01:49,240 Speaker 1: and women, that we all understand that it's a situation 30 00:01:49,280 --> 00:01:53,640 Speaker 1: where it's okay, uh, to show vulnerability. I don't I 31 00:01:53,680 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 1: don't refer to it as weakness, but vulnerability. That's the 32 00:01:56,320 --> 00:01:59,160 Speaker 1: word I use. You know, there's description and in the 33 00:01:59,160 --> 00:02:01,440 Speaker 1: word it always talked about yet yet and our weakness 34 00:02:01,480 --> 00:02:03,800 Speaker 1: is strength is perfective. And I think it's one of 35 00:02:03,800 --> 00:02:07,280 Speaker 1: those deals where you know when when when it's translated, 36 00:02:07,520 --> 00:02:11,040 Speaker 1: what it means is is that yet and our vulnerability 37 00:02:11,400 --> 00:02:14,480 Speaker 1: God's strength is perfected. And I think it's a situation 38 00:02:14,480 --> 00:02:17,200 Speaker 1: where we have to understand as men and women that 39 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:21,360 Speaker 1: it's okay to be vulnerable. It's okay to sometimes know 40 00:02:21,560 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 1: that sometimes you're not gonna always have the answer. Sometimes 41 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:27,680 Speaker 1: you're not gonna always know how to figure it out, 42 00:02:28,120 --> 00:02:30,400 Speaker 1: and and maybe that means that it's just time to 43 00:02:30,440 --> 00:02:34,560 Speaker 1: reach out. And I think being able to have, uh, 44 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: the ability to let that pride down or let that 45 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:40,440 Speaker 1: guard down and be able to say, you know, it's 46 00:02:40,440 --> 00:02:42,920 Speaker 1: okay to show that vulnerability. I think that's really what 47 00:02:42,960 --> 00:02:45,640 Speaker 1: a real healing starts. And the and the growth, the 48 00:02:45,720 --> 00:02:48,840 Speaker 1: mental growth and health and wellness starts is from that. 49 00:02:49,280 --> 00:02:52,320 Speaker 1: And when an individual can get to that place, I 50 00:02:52,360 --> 00:02:54,840 Speaker 1: always say that the skuy's a limit for him, you know, 51 00:02:54,880 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: but you just have to be able to understand that 52 00:02:57,200 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 1: it's not weakness, it's it's vamid to be vulnerable and 53 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:02,720 Speaker 1: being and it's okay to ask for help. And you know, 54 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:05,720 Speaker 1: like I'll jump into and I'll say that, you know, 55 00:03:05,760 --> 00:03:08,960 Speaker 1: I tell my guys, you know, get the help first, 56 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:13,520 Speaker 1: and then tell me you don't need it, right, you know, 57 00:03:14,400 --> 00:03:17,560 Speaker 1: you know, Let's let's turn this around to where you 58 00:03:17,600 --> 00:03:22,200 Speaker 1: know you may be experiencing something. I see something you 59 00:03:22,320 --> 00:03:26,000 Speaker 1: agree we pointed out, and then you say I can 60 00:03:26,040 --> 00:03:28,760 Speaker 1: handle it, I don't need to help. Well, let's get 61 00:03:28,760 --> 00:03:30,640 Speaker 1: the help first, and then you can tell me that 62 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:32,440 Speaker 1: you don't need to help. And I feel like we 63 00:03:32,440 --> 00:03:35,760 Speaker 1: we do that with everything else, but because when it 64 00:03:35,760 --> 00:03:37,960 Speaker 1: comes to mental health, you know, we don't want to 65 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:41,640 Speaker 1: take that approach um. And so then I think once 66 00:03:41,680 --> 00:03:45,800 Speaker 1: you realize that you may, once you experience the help 67 00:03:46,000 --> 00:03:49,240 Speaker 1: or once you may have the conversation, you'll see the 68 00:03:49,240 --> 00:03:52,520 Speaker 1: skill set that you develop. Because I had I had 69 00:03:52,560 --> 00:03:56,040 Speaker 1: a player who uh I could not get him to 70 00:03:56,040 --> 00:03:58,560 Speaker 1: get the support um, and then the situation in his 71 00:03:58,680 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 1: life happened. And yeah, it was one of those situations. 72 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:03,840 Speaker 1: It was it was a crisis situation. The bottom kind 73 00:04:03,840 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 1: of fell out, and so now you know, he's getting 74 00:04:08,000 --> 00:04:11,560 Speaker 1: the support and everything has kind of mended itself back together, 75 00:04:12,000 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 1: but he's getting the support and he loves it. Right. 76 00:04:15,040 --> 00:04:17,520 Speaker 1: I can't get him the stop calling, uh you know, 77 00:04:17,560 --> 00:04:20,640 Speaker 1: the team plemission and stuff like that, and so you know, 78 00:04:20,720 --> 00:04:23,560 Speaker 1: and again that's just one of those situations where, uh, 79 00:04:24,320 --> 00:04:27,480 Speaker 1: whether it could have prevented the crisis situation, I don't know, 80 00:04:28,240 --> 00:04:31,920 Speaker 1: but it's it's what I've seen. And what I'm seeing 81 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:35,240 Speaker 1: is like, okay that once you get to help, now 82 00:04:35,320 --> 00:04:37,640 Speaker 1: you start to see what I'm talking about, right, or 83 00:04:37,680 --> 00:04:41,119 Speaker 1: now you start to see where you're where. You're getting 84 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:44,159 Speaker 1: this skill set from just reaching out and you're not 85 00:04:44,320 --> 00:04:47,760 Speaker 1: weak nobody's calling you weak because of it. Nobody's you know, 86 00:04:47,839 --> 00:04:51,480 Speaker 1: you're not. You're actually empowered, right, You're actually you actually 87 00:04:51,480 --> 00:04:54,480 Speaker 1: have more tools in your tool box now because you 88 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:56,800 Speaker 1: sort of professional. Right, If I want to know how 89 00:04:56,839 --> 00:04:59,920 Speaker 1: to cook, I'm gonna go find the chef and now 90 00:05:00,080 --> 00:05:02,159 Speaker 1: I'm gonna come back. And I'm a man, right, but 91 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:04,520 Speaker 1: I come back and then I got I could I 92 00:05:04,520 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 1: could throw together some steak and some strips because I 93 00:05:07,720 --> 00:05:11,680 Speaker 1: went and gave this understanding from you know, professionals. And 94 00:05:11,800 --> 00:05:13,760 Speaker 1: it's the same way when it comes to mental health. 95 00:05:13,839 --> 00:05:16,280 Speaker 1: Like I just think that you know, now you come 96 00:05:16,360 --> 00:05:19,720 Speaker 1: back more empowered after you've had a conversation with somebody 97 00:05:19,720 --> 00:05:21,920 Speaker 1: who has a doctor, after you had a conversation with 98 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: somebody who has experience in this area. Now you're actually 99 00:05:26,080 --> 00:05:29,640 Speaker 1: stronger than you were before you went into the Ryan 100 00:05:29,720 --> 00:05:33,640 Speaker 1: Man you that was really really good and and and 101 00:05:33,720 --> 00:05:37,280 Speaker 1: you just you brought up a memory of a guy. 102 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:40,479 Speaker 1: You know, we do the Bridge His Success program for 103 00:05:40,560 --> 00:05:44,159 Speaker 1: our former for our former Legends, and there was a 104 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:47,520 Speaker 1: guy in one of our breakout sessions and he literally 105 00:05:47,560 --> 00:05:50,680 Speaker 1: man like he was not engaged, like he bought his 106 00:05:50,680 --> 00:05:55,280 Speaker 1: wife and his family at two beautiful kids, and he 107 00:05:55,320 --> 00:05:57,640 Speaker 1: was engaged in the process. But as soon as we 108 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:01,039 Speaker 1: started talking about like, um, you know, counseling and stuff, 109 00:06:01,040 --> 00:06:04,360 Speaker 1: but he was like, oh, you know, you know, nobody 110 00:06:04,360 --> 00:06:07,000 Speaker 1: needs that, you know what I mean. He was just like, 111 00:06:07,120 --> 00:06:09,160 Speaker 1: I mean, he was going on and on and then 112 00:06:09,320 --> 00:06:13,960 Speaker 1: until until crisis, you know what I mean. And I 113 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:16,520 Speaker 1: think you know, we obviously don't want them to wait 114 00:06:16,640 --> 00:06:18,599 Speaker 1: till they get the crisis, but sometimes that's what it 115 00:06:18,640 --> 00:06:21,400 Speaker 1: takes in order for them to embrace it. And and 116 00:06:21,480 --> 00:06:24,440 Speaker 1: yet they had this major crisis in the marriaging family 117 00:06:24,960 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 1: and literally, um, I tell you that guy's now a 118 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:33,719 Speaker 1: spokesperson like literally for counselors. Like it's crazy how the 119 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:37,520 Speaker 1: swing goes whenever they get the experience of it and 120 00:06:37,560 --> 00:06:40,400 Speaker 1: the stigma is broken down and now they can mentally, 121 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:46,560 Speaker 1: you know, have a different perspective on literally how impactful. Um, 122 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:49,680 Speaker 1: just having that support and having those counselors and having 123 00:06:49,680 --> 00:06:53,440 Speaker 1: those people that can just speak perspective into you and 124 00:06:53,440 --> 00:06:55,839 Speaker 1: and and let you have a different look on life. 125 00:06:56,080 --> 00:06:58,960 Speaker 1: It's amazing, man. But literally, man, he's a spokesperson for 126 00:06:59,040 --> 00:07:03,760 Speaker 1: counselor now. Fantastic And we need more of him, right, 127 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:07,000 Speaker 1: We need. You know, the more we talk about this 128 00:07:07,680 --> 00:07:09,880 Speaker 1: and the more we make it okay that, the less 129 00:07:09,920 --> 00:07:12,520 Speaker 1: it will take guys to getting to crisis right. We 130 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:16,560 Speaker 1: really want to get um, you know, people reaching out 131 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: before they are in crisis, right. And I I often 132 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:22,280 Speaker 1: find a foot in the door when we're dealing with 133 00:07:22,360 --> 00:07:26,240 Speaker 1: kind of that resistance to getting help. Is also sort 134 00:07:26,280 --> 00:07:29,680 Speaker 1: of like, okay, well, don't get help for yourself, but 135 00:07:30,200 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: your wife and your kids need it, and you're this 136 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:34,720 Speaker 1: caretaker and it's the idea of and this is sort 137 00:07:34,720 --> 00:07:38,200 Speaker 1: of possibly a cliche from our psychology world, but really 138 00:07:38,240 --> 00:07:41,160 Speaker 1: that idea of putting your own oxygen mask on first, right, 139 00:07:41,600 --> 00:07:44,160 Speaker 1: get these skills, get you're going to be a better father, 140 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:47,000 Speaker 1: a better husband, all of these things. So, you know, 141 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:49,360 Speaker 1: don't do it for yourself then, but do it for them. 142 00:07:49,800 --> 00:07:52,120 Speaker 1: It is also another kind of way to a side 143 00:07:52,120 --> 00:07:56,480 Speaker 1: step around those deeply ingrained kind of sy stigma and 144 00:07:56,520 --> 00:08:01,160 Speaker 1: the and the resistance to kind of accessing help can 145 00:08:01,200 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 1: be another way. But you know, I wanted to transition 146 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 1: a little bit, and Eddie, I wanted to talk to 147 00:08:07,320 --> 00:08:13,000 Speaker 1: you specifically, you know, really about that transition from the 148 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:16,480 Speaker 1: field to legend status. UM. So maybe you can explain 149 00:08:16,480 --> 00:08:18,559 Speaker 1: a little bit about your role as a transition coach, 150 00:08:18,960 --> 00:08:21,840 Speaker 1: but also what that process is like, UM, and how 151 00:08:21,840 --> 00:08:24,840 Speaker 1: important is to attend to mental health during that transition, 152 00:08:24,880 --> 00:08:29,120 Speaker 1: because man, it's tough, right yeah, you know care You know, 153 00:08:29,280 --> 00:08:34,480 Speaker 1: reality is that transition is an ongoing process, UM, and 154 00:08:34,520 --> 00:08:36,920 Speaker 1: it's one of those things that never ends. UM. I 155 00:08:36,960 --> 00:08:39,520 Speaker 1: think you know, when I look back UM over my 156 00:08:39,559 --> 00:08:42,600 Speaker 1: own personal experience, you know, transition our NFL, you know, 157 00:08:42,640 --> 00:08:45,720 Speaker 1: we really didn't back then all of these services and 158 00:08:45,760 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 1: all of the resources and benefits that we now have 159 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:53,200 Speaker 1: access to because of our NFL Player Engagement Department. I 160 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,680 Speaker 1: think it's one of those one of those deals, UM, 161 00:08:55,720 --> 00:09:01,040 Speaker 1: where now you know, guys have have the opportunity where 162 00:09:01,040 --> 00:09:03,680 Speaker 1: they can engage or will be engaged by guys like 163 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:06,880 Speaker 1: myself and guys like Ron Um who will help walk 164 00:09:06,920 --> 00:09:10,439 Speaker 1: them through the process of exit and entering into what's next. 165 00:09:11,040 --> 00:09:14,880 Speaker 1: And I think that's a beautiful pair pair because you know, 166 00:09:15,080 --> 00:09:18,600 Speaker 1: Ron gets an opportunity to really nurture and mentor these 167 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:20,960 Speaker 1: men in life, and then I get a chance from 168 00:09:21,040 --> 00:09:25,240 Speaker 1: his great labor work that those amazing dps do. Now 169 00:09:25,280 --> 00:09:28,160 Speaker 1: they kind of um, nurturing them into our care. And 170 00:09:28,200 --> 00:09:30,640 Speaker 1: I think the beauty of that is that many of 171 00:09:30,679 --> 00:09:35,160 Speaker 1: the guys are coming in educated on the resources and benefits. 172 00:09:35,559 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 1: Many of them understand the process of transition, especially from 173 00:09:40,000 --> 00:09:42,960 Speaker 1: the really really good deep DPS. And I think more 174 00:09:43,040 --> 00:09:46,840 Speaker 1: so than that, it's a situation now where um, they're 175 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:49,920 Speaker 1: getting that call of support and and what it looks 176 00:09:50,000 --> 00:09:54,240 Speaker 1: like is is this literally is uh, you know our 177 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:57,920 Speaker 1: you know, our our, our Keith Keith Alias, Who's who's 178 00:09:58,000 --> 00:10:00,160 Speaker 1: my manager? You know? They give us a lit the 179 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:04,160 Speaker 1: guys who are transitioning out of the NFL, and we 180 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:06,520 Speaker 1: get a chance to call them. And my first innittory 181 00:10:06,559 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 1: contact is that a man, Hey, this is Eddie Mason, 182 00:10:09,520 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 1: former brother from a legend. Um just want to call 183 00:10:12,840 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 1: and just uh check in which and say hello man, 184 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,280 Speaker 1: and see how life is going, and really just try 185 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 1: to seek seek to understand where they are in life 186 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:24,240 Speaker 1: and what matters most to them. And most of the 187 00:10:24,240 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 1: time when they hear this old country voice they're using, 188 00:10:26,679 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 1: warm up pretty good. And uh, you know they hear 189 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:32,520 Speaker 1: that old Southern twain and so they warm up pretty good. 190 00:10:32,559 --> 00:10:35,360 Speaker 1: And so after that, you know, we just started talking 191 00:10:35,360 --> 00:10:38,640 Speaker 1: about life and family and kids and marriage and talking 192 00:10:38,679 --> 00:10:41,120 Speaker 1: about what matters to them, what you know, sometimes we 193 00:10:41,160 --> 00:10:43,600 Speaker 1: talk about their career and what that was like, and 194 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:45,360 Speaker 1: then we start getting into like, you know what did 195 00:10:45,440 --> 00:10:47,719 Speaker 1: what did the game really teach you? What did you 196 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:50,040 Speaker 1: learn from it? You know, what are some things that like, 197 00:10:50,520 --> 00:10:52,920 Speaker 1: you know, taking away from the game outside of all 198 00:10:52,920 --> 00:10:55,720 Speaker 1: the accolades and all the stuff that the game provided 199 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 1: for you and financially, but what did you really take away? 200 00:10:58,760 --> 00:11:01,400 Speaker 1: And then they started getting in the conversation about purpose 201 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,200 Speaker 1: and you know, what matters to them and life skills 202 00:11:04,200 --> 00:11:07,280 Speaker 1: that they develop, and then you started asking questions about 203 00:11:07,600 --> 00:11:09,880 Speaker 1: you know, what would you see yourself doing? You know, 204 00:11:09,920 --> 00:11:12,400 Speaker 1: what would you see yourself doing with those amazing life skills? 205 00:11:12,400 --> 00:11:14,800 Speaker 1: And I always try to make them like pump them up, 206 00:11:14,960 --> 00:11:16,800 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, like really make them feel 207 00:11:16,800 --> 00:11:19,680 Speaker 1: like man. Like man, there's nothing that you can do, 208 00:11:19,840 --> 00:11:22,800 Speaker 1: there's nothing that's impossible to do. Then we get into 209 00:11:22,880 --> 00:11:26,520 Speaker 1: the conversation about education and what those next steps look like, 210 00:11:26,600 --> 00:11:28,880 Speaker 1: you know, did they graduate not graduate? And then we 211 00:11:28,960 --> 00:11:32,560 Speaker 1: start getting into you know more, um just dwelling into 212 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:35,760 Speaker 1: their lives, and I think, um, you know that doesn't happen. 213 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:38,600 Speaker 1: Sometimes it does happen. In one call, and sometimes it 214 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:41,720 Speaker 1: happens over a course of calls. But but the reality 215 00:11:41,840 --> 00:11:44,480 Speaker 1: is we get a chance to really just get to 216 00:11:44,520 --> 00:11:48,040 Speaker 1: know the legend and they're amazing families and wives and 217 00:11:48,200 --> 00:11:51,640 Speaker 1: children and uh and you ask those uh those carrying 218 00:11:51,720 --> 00:11:54,440 Speaker 1: questions that help them just open up and share about 219 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:57,000 Speaker 1: who they are and literally just helped walk them to 220 00:11:57,120 --> 00:11:59,840 Speaker 1: the next step. And that's what I love most because 221 00:12:00,040 --> 00:12:01,959 Speaker 1: I didn't get a chance to have that, And that's 222 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:05,079 Speaker 1: why I'm so passionate about doing it for guys because 223 00:12:05,120 --> 00:12:07,600 Speaker 1: I think it's something that's that's necessary and need it 224 00:12:08,000 --> 00:12:10,240 Speaker 1: and I think it helps him understand that, man, listen, 225 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:12,880 Speaker 1: just because you retire doesn't mean you're not part of 226 00:12:12,880 --> 00:12:15,680 Speaker 1: this amazing community more. You're still part of this family. 227 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:17,920 Speaker 1: And I think that's what matters most of these men. 228 00:12:19,559 --> 00:12:21,920 Speaker 1: I love that, and they are so lucky to have 229 00:12:22,000 --> 00:12:26,120 Speaker 1: you in that process. And I think you know, Eddie, 230 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 1: I imagine and you tell me, but certainly I through 231 00:12:29,559 --> 00:12:31,720 Speaker 1: the years, I've had this experience that you know, some 232 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:36,199 Speaker 1: guys when they retire maybe aren't ready to accept that 233 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:39,240 Speaker 1: they are out of the league in that first year 234 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:41,840 Speaker 1: when they get that first call from you, right, and 235 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:44,280 Speaker 1: it may take a few calls or it may take 236 00:12:44,760 --> 00:12:47,520 Speaker 1: you know sometimes and I would extend this to you 237 00:12:47,640 --> 00:12:49,880 Speaker 1: to you you run too, you know, how do you 238 00:12:49,920 --> 00:12:54,360 Speaker 1: work with someone who maybe you know, isn't ready to 239 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:57,400 Speaker 1: get help, who doesn't want to get help, who won't 240 00:12:57,440 --> 00:13:02,160 Speaker 1: help themselves, but you see, really needs help. Yeah. Um, 241 00:13:02,240 --> 00:13:04,880 Speaker 1: and that's and that's difficult. That's difficult, whether it's you know, 242 00:13:04,920 --> 00:13:08,360 Speaker 1: with the players, or that's difficult whether it's somebody in 243 00:13:08,400 --> 00:13:12,400 Speaker 1: your household. Um. But I always try to coin the 244 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:15,559 Speaker 1: phrase like, you know, let's stick your toe in the water, right, 245 00:13:15,800 --> 00:13:19,080 Speaker 1: Like you know, we all talk about or we know 246 00:13:19,320 --> 00:13:20,760 Speaker 1: what it means to jump all the way in the 247 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 1: pool um and swim. But sometimes it helps people to 248 00:13:26,200 --> 00:13:30,400 Speaker 1: just let's let's take a step here. Um, let's put 249 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:34,320 Speaker 1: our toe in the water and kind of see, um, 250 00:13:34,440 --> 00:13:37,319 Speaker 1: how this feels to you? How is it cold? Is 251 00:13:37,360 --> 00:13:41,240 Speaker 1: it hot? You know, is it just the right temperature? Um? 252 00:13:41,320 --> 00:13:44,760 Speaker 1: Before you know, if you're willing to do that with 253 00:13:44,800 --> 00:13:48,960 Speaker 1: me before jumping all the way in right um? To me, 254 00:13:50,120 --> 00:13:53,600 Speaker 1: A lot of support again from our players comes through 255 00:13:53,640 --> 00:13:57,000 Speaker 1: just a natural conversation. Right. So if our team clinician 256 00:13:57,120 --> 00:13:59,040 Speaker 1: is sitting you know, not at this time. But if 257 00:13:59,080 --> 00:14:02,400 Speaker 1: our team clinician was sitting in our facility and she's 258 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:05,560 Speaker 1: just sitting at lunch, um, or she's just sitting at 259 00:14:05,559 --> 00:14:08,880 Speaker 1: the table where people walk by, let's just go talk 260 00:14:08,920 --> 00:14:10,800 Speaker 1: to her about that. Then you you was you was 261 00:14:10,840 --> 00:14:14,040 Speaker 1: talking to me about right, I'll go mention the issue 262 00:14:14,040 --> 00:14:16,160 Speaker 1: that you had with your relationship, Like, let's just have 263 00:14:16,280 --> 00:14:22,000 Speaker 1: a conversation first and ease our way into this thing before, 264 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:25,240 Speaker 1: you know, before you feel like it has to be 265 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: something that's full blown. UM. So you know my answer 266 00:14:29,680 --> 00:14:32,560 Speaker 1: to that is just I think that you gotta take 267 00:14:32,600 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 1: baby steps. UM. You got to be authentic and genuine yourself. UM. 268 00:14:40,400 --> 00:14:43,720 Speaker 1: If you're the person that's helping them, UM, tie it 269 00:14:43,760 --> 00:14:48,200 Speaker 1: into something you may have experienced yourself. UM. And then 270 00:14:48,480 --> 00:14:51,440 Speaker 1: grab that person by the hand and go alongside with them, 271 00:14:51,560 --> 00:14:54,520 Speaker 1: UM and so and and and help them and show 272 00:14:54,560 --> 00:14:56,800 Speaker 1: them how easy in the house, how slow, let's take 273 00:14:56,840 --> 00:15:00,800 Speaker 1: this slow? How slow it could be. UM. But it's 274 00:15:01,360 --> 00:15:04,560 Speaker 1: a difficult thing, but it's not It's doable. And I 275 00:15:04,640 --> 00:15:08,400 Speaker 1: think that you know, taking a slow, easy approach, sticking 276 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:10,800 Speaker 1: your toe in the water, seeing if they're willing to 277 00:15:10,880 --> 00:15:13,560 Speaker 1: do that, and then kind of seeing where it goes 278 00:15:13,600 --> 00:15:17,360 Speaker 1: from there. And what I love about that run too 279 00:15:17,520 --> 00:15:20,240 Speaker 1: is that you know there's not only that sort of 280 00:15:20,280 --> 00:15:24,160 Speaker 1: gentle approach whereas you're not pushing them too hard, you 281 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:26,880 Speaker 1: know where you're gonna get that a knee jerk resistance 282 00:15:26,960 --> 00:15:31,560 Speaker 1: from them. But what you are doing is you're demonstrating 283 00:15:31,600 --> 00:15:34,080 Speaker 1: that you're going to be next to them in the journey, 284 00:15:34,160 --> 00:15:36,840 Speaker 1: right and that even if they're only going to put 285 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:40,160 Speaker 1: a little toe and now, you're still going to be 286 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:42,640 Speaker 1: here when they're ready to do the next step or 287 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:45,200 Speaker 1: you know. And that I think is so important in 288 00:15:45,240 --> 00:15:48,120 Speaker 1: this process is reminding folks that you know you're still 289 00:15:48,120 --> 00:15:50,800 Speaker 1: here and to continue to check back in with with 290 00:15:50,920 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 1: guys and and loved ones who aren't ready to get help. 291 00:15:53,800 --> 00:15:57,400 Speaker 1: But Eddie, yeah, your thoughts on this, it's important. You know, Um, 292 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:01,680 Speaker 1: you had mentioned ron your spot on about what you 293 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:05,120 Speaker 1: just said in terms of being patient, and I think 294 00:16:05,160 --> 00:16:09,000 Speaker 1: that um, you know, you you had you had segued 295 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:13,680 Speaker 1: into you know, the difficulties of transition too. You know, 296 00:16:13,720 --> 00:16:16,720 Speaker 1: I spoke to our support and our level as as 297 00:16:16,800 --> 00:16:21,000 Speaker 1: life transition coaches. You know, the atmosphere that we try 298 00:16:21,040 --> 00:16:24,040 Speaker 1: to foster, you know, and trying to get them to think, 299 00:16:24,080 --> 00:16:27,960 Speaker 1: what a real positive outlook and attitude. But that doesn't 300 00:16:28,080 --> 00:16:31,440 Speaker 1: always mean that the guy's going to be embracing up 301 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:34,320 Speaker 1: that because of the fact that they did. You know, 302 00:16:34,520 --> 00:16:38,240 Speaker 1: majority of us don't get to right our passage in 303 00:16:38,280 --> 00:16:41,040 Speaker 1: the league. Most of us are either cut due to injury, 304 00:16:41,880 --> 00:16:46,360 Speaker 1: um due to production issues, or it could be contracts, 305 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:49,640 Speaker 1: you and the league just like they moved on. And 306 00:16:49,680 --> 00:16:53,480 Speaker 1: so that level of rejection sometimes, you know, wounds the ego, 307 00:16:54,200 --> 00:16:57,240 Speaker 1: wounds the mentality, and sometimes you've got guys who are 308 00:16:57,320 --> 00:17:00,560 Speaker 1: hurting because they just lost the very thing that they love, 309 00:17:01,000 --> 00:17:03,040 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, that they've done that worked 310 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:05,240 Speaker 1: so hard all their their lives to get to this place, 311 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:08,040 Speaker 1: and then all of a sudden, Sometimes you don't know 312 00:17:08,119 --> 00:17:10,879 Speaker 1: when that time is gonna be done. You know, for me, 313 00:17:11,080 --> 00:17:15,480 Speaker 1: it was immediate. I was done. Um. Fortunate enough for me, 314 00:17:15,560 --> 00:17:17,880 Speaker 1: I was mentally prepared for it because I had been 315 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:21,240 Speaker 1: out one time before. But that's not always the case 316 00:17:21,320 --> 00:17:24,200 Speaker 1: for our legends. That's not always the case for them 317 00:17:24,240 --> 00:17:26,359 Speaker 1: and their families. You know, the wives too, as we 318 00:17:26,440 --> 00:17:30,360 Speaker 1: always talk about their in transition too. It's as much 319 00:17:30,400 --> 00:17:35,280 Speaker 1: as the the legends are, the wives are in transition 320 00:17:35,320 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 1: to so you're not just dealing with um um the 321 00:17:38,600 --> 00:17:41,920 Speaker 1: players themselves. You're dealing with their families, their children. You're 322 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:43,680 Speaker 1: dealing with the fact that some of these guys are 323 00:17:43,720 --> 00:17:45,879 Speaker 1: just running, some of them are angry at the league, 324 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:48,240 Speaker 1: some of them feel like they have been done wrong. 325 00:17:48,680 --> 00:17:50,480 Speaker 1: So you have a lot of resentment and a lot 326 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:52,199 Speaker 1: of things that need to be worked through, which is 327 00:17:52,240 --> 00:17:55,040 Speaker 1: why they're counseling services and and much of the level 328 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:58,320 Speaker 1: of support that the life transition coaches and their dpes 329 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:01,160 Speaker 1: and so many of the clinton sitions that are part 330 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:05,239 Speaker 1: of this ongoing process, this ongoing transition process are so 331 00:18:06,080 --> 00:18:10,560 Speaker 1: very important because it's not just one thing, it's multiple 332 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:13,600 Speaker 1: layer of things depending on the circumstances in the situation. 333 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:18,000 Speaker 1: And it's our jobs as transition coach to recognize what 334 00:18:18,200 --> 00:18:21,239 Speaker 1: they need and then try to point them into the 335 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:24,360 Speaker 1: to the areas of resource and benefits that the league provides. 336 00:18:24,880 --> 00:18:27,920 Speaker 1: The thing I want most all guys in all players, 337 00:18:27,960 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 1: all legends, and their families and their wives and their 338 00:18:30,119 --> 00:18:34,960 Speaker 1: beautiful children to know is there are there are layers 339 00:18:34,960 --> 00:18:41,960 Speaker 1: of support out there for us. Eight free UH clinicians sessions, 340 00:18:42,920 --> 00:18:45,720 Speaker 1: each one of us, your family member, your husband, your wife, 341 00:18:45,880 --> 00:18:50,080 Speaker 1: your children, You get eight free clinical sessions. You know 342 00:18:50,119 --> 00:18:52,679 Speaker 1: what I mean if that, if that is indeed something 343 00:18:52,720 --> 00:18:54,680 Speaker 1: that you want to take have access to. And I 344 00:18:55,000 --> 00:18:58,440 Speaker 1: know Kira mentioned that prior to in our first podcast, 345 00:18:58,480 --> 00:19:01,440 Speaker 1: but I want to re emphasize that if you need help, 346 00:19:01,560 --> 00:19:06,439 Speaker 1: you feel like that you're unsure, if this all is confidential, like, 347 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:09,560 Speaker 1: reach out for help and know that we're here for you. 348 00:19:09,560 --> 00:19:11,320 Speaker 1: Know that we're here for you and your families. And 349 00:19:11,359 --> 00:19:14,720 Speaker 1: I think you know that's the main thing. Thank you 350 00:19:14,840 --> 00:19:17,040 Speaker 1: Eddie for that. And you know, as we wrap up 351 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:19,080 Speaker 1: in a little bit, I will make sure that I 352 00:19:19,160 --> 00:19:22,439 Speaker 1: go over what those resources are or where books listening 353 00:19:22,480 --> 00:19:25,960 Speaker 1: can access those, um for sure, But I heard and 354 00:19:26,000 --> 00:19:28,680 Speaker 1: what you were saying, ay, just the importance of kind 355 00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:32,520 Speaker 1: of meeting guys where they're at and then also addressing 356 00:19:32,560 --> 00:19:36,200 Speaker 1: their full kind of ecosystem, the family and and support 357 00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:38,159 Speaker 1: for them and all of the pieces of the of 358 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:41,159 Speaker 1: the picture and the puzzle, um Ron. You know, I 359 00:19:41,160 --> 00:19:44,840 Speaker 1: wanted to talk to you too about kind of your 360 00:19:44,920 --> 00:19:47,719 Speaker 1: role as a DPE, you know, director of player engagem. 361 00:19:47,720 --> 00:19:50,360 Speaker 1: Maybe you could describe a little bit about what that entails, 362 00:19:51,160 --> 00:19:54,879 Speaker 1: um and how players can improve their mental health to 363 00:19:55,000 --> 00:19:57,840 Speaker 1: achieve goals certainly on the field, but also off the field, 364 00:19:57,840 --> 00:20:00,440 Speaker 1: and how you've seen that sort of play out when 365 00:20:00,560 --> 00:20:05,080 Speaker 1: guys actually utilize resources to do so, right, right, Yeah, 366 00:20:05,680 --> 00:20:07,399 Speaker 1: in terms of the role of the dp A, like, 367 00:20:07,560 --> 00:20:10,760 Speaker 1: my job is to elevate our guys off the field, right. 368 00:20:11,080 --> 00:20:13,920 Speaker 1: I really want to elevate our guys as men. Um. 369 00:20:13,960 --> 00:20:17,359 Speaker 1: I want them to grow in areas of leadership, of 370 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:23,359 Speaker 1: decision making, UM, of financial education, financial understanding um. And 371 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:26,040 Speaker 1: then also again as we're talking now, in the area 372 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:29,480 Speaker 1: of mental health uh and mental strength. Um. So. So 373 00:20:29,600 --> 00:20:31,960 Speaker 1: my job as a DPE is to see who and 374 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:36,160 Speaker 1: understand who they are as people, UM, understand that that 375 00:20:36,240 --> 00:20:40,359 Speaker 1: impacts what takes place on the field, and create bridge 376 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:44,040 Speaker 1: the gap between who they are off the field, bridge 377 00:20:44,080 --> 00:20:46,359 Speaker 1: the gap between who they are off the field and 378 00:20:46,480 --> 00:20:49,520 Speaker 1: who they will become, you know, and how that translate 379 00:20:49,600 --> 00:20:52,880 Speaker 1: to what they do on the field. UM. So, reality 380 00:20:52,960 --> 00:20:54,560 Speaker 1: is like, I just want to I want to elevate 381 00:20:54,600 --> 00:20:56,240 Speaker 1: these guys, you know, I want to. I want to 382 00:20:56,280 --> 00:20:58,520 Speaker 1: take them from you know kind of I want to 383 00:20:58,560 --> 00:21:01,600 Speaker 1: take them from guys who come in his rookies um 384 00:21:01,640 --> 00:21:04,399 Speaker 1: and just fresh out of college to guys who become 385 00:21:04,640 --> 00:21:08,199 Speaker 1: men um when their time comes, as Eddie mentioned, for 386 00:21:08,240 --> 00:21:10,600 Speaker 1: them to transition out of the game. UM. So that's 387 00:21:10,600 --> 00:21:13,159 Speaker 1: my goal. My goal is a dp is is to 388 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:18,440 Speaker 1: take these areas of manhood of development UM and strengthen 389 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:21,000 Speaker 1: them for our guys so that it impacts them on 390 00:21:21,040 --> 00:21:24,040 Speaker 1: the field UM, so that they can have success at 391 00:21:24,080 --> 00:21:26,920 Speaker 1: their jobs, and then it impacts them for years to come, 392 00:21:27,280 --> 00:21:30,280 Speaker 1: so that when they transition out of this job um, 393 00:21:30,640 --> 00:21:35,120 Speaker 1: they continue to have that extended level of success UM. 394 00:21:35,200 --> 00:21:37,440 Speaker 1: And it's just from a mental health standpoint again, Like 395 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:39,280 Speaker 1: you know, things that I've seen, Like I like to 396 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:42,920 Speaker 1: talk in examples, right, our players have you know, our 397 00:21:42,920 --> 00:21:45,239 Speaker 1: players are married, right, So things that I've seen like 398 00:21:45,760 --> 00:21:49,360 Speaker 1: somebody potentially going through a divorce, right, somebody who has 399 00:21:49,359 --> 00:21:52,960 Speaker 1: an overbearing parent and they're trying to get uh that 400 00:21:53,240 --> 00:21:55,440 Speaker 1: organized because that can weigh on them when they're trying 401 00:21:55,440 --> 00:21:59,480 Speaker 1: to prepare for a game. Um. Somebody that has you know, 402 00:21:59,520 --> 00:22:04,199 Speaker 1: another relationship issue, whether it's got a girlfriend or or 403 00:22:04,240 --> 00:22:07,320 Speaker 1: something like that. Like this is what I'm seeing. So 404 00:22:07,440 --> 00:22:10,880 Speaker 1: when these guys get support, I've seen them have more 405 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:13,960 Speaker 1: of a clear mind and a clear focus when it 406 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:17,240 Speaker 1: comes to their work and what they produce on the field. Yeah, 407 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:21,400 Speaker 1: thank you, Ron, And you know, everything you're providing that's 408 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:24,280 Speaker 1: so early on kind of is going to serve them 409 00:22:24,280 --> 00:22:28,240 Speaker 1: well throughout and then serve them well when they meet Eddie, 410 00:22:28,280 --> 00:22:31,360 Speaker 1: you know, in their transition if you're making his job 411 00:22:31,400 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 1: easier for right, my job. Um. So, you know, we've 412 00:22:40,320 --> 00:22:43,600 Speaker 1: talked a lot today and I recognize that you two 413 00:22:43,760 --> 00:22:46,800 Speaker 1: are incredible resources for all of us and for so 414 00:22:46,840 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 1: many um, but I also wanted to go over specifically 415 00:22:50,800 --> 00:22:53,919 Speaker 1: some of the resources that we've touched upon. You know, 416 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:58,520 Speaker 1: first of all, there's the NFL Lifeline Independent Confidential available 417 00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:01,080 Speaker 1: twenty four seven and speak with a counsel or a 418 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:04,160 Speaker 1: chat with us online. That phone number is one eight 419 00:23:04,200 --> 00:23:08,960 Speaker 1: hundred five zero six zero zero seven eight, and the 420 00:23:09,000 --> 00:23:13,159 Speaker 1: website is www dot NFL lifeline dot org. You know, 421 00:23:13,200 --> 00:23:17,200 Speaker 1: we referenced that amazing sort of mental health benefit through 422 00:23:17,240 --> 00:23:19,280 Speaker 1: the signat e A P. I want to make sure 423 00:23:19,320 --> 00:23:21,879 Speaker 1: you all have that number as well. The phone number 424 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:25,240 Speaker 1: for to access that through SIGNA is one eight hundred 425 00:23:25,280 --> 00:23:29,800 Speaker 1: four to one eight six to eight. And then of 426 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:33,359 Speaker 1: course there's so many resources through the player portal and 427 00:23:33,400 --> 00:23:35,800 Speaker 1: these are these resources are up there as well, and 428 00:23:35,880 --> 00:23:39,480 Speaker 1: you can access a player portal through player dot NFL 429 00:23:39,720 --> 00:23:43,680 Speaker 1: dot net. Um So, Ron and Eddie, this has been 430 00:23:43,760 --> 00:23:47,160 Speaker 1: so great. Thank you for joining us and for all 431 00:23:47,160 --> 00:23:51,040 Speaker 1: the work you're doing to support your your community. Thank you, 432 00:23:51,880 --> 00:23:55,200 Speaker 1: thank you, thank you, thank you so much. Thank you Ron, 433 00:23:55,920 --> 00:23:58,680 Speaker 1: for everyone else who's been listening, and I hope you're 434 00:23:58,720 --> 00:24:01,840 Speaker 1: all staying say and healthy and that you're attending to 435 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:05,200 Speaker 1: your mental health as well. And please know, as we've 436 00:24:05,200 --> 00:24:07,840 Speaker 1: been saying, there is support and help if you need it. 437 00:24:08,520 --> 00:24:11,840 Speaker 1: So thanks for tuning in and as a niece would say, 438 00:24:12,359 --> 00:24:22,919 Speaker 1: the best is yet to come. This has been the 439 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:27,119 Speaker 1: NFL Legends podcast. To provide feedback or request a topic 440 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 1: for discussion, email us at NFL Legends at NFL dot com. 441 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:38,560 Speaker 1: Yeah