Most young men only dream of playing in the National Football League. Very few see that dream come true, but it did for Adrian Robinson. “A.D.” as he was known played professional football for a total of 22 games. Before making it as a pro, he was a star defender at Temple University.
He was 25, with a young daughter and a bright future. It’s sad that he did not see it that way. On May 16th, Robinson took his own life.
His friends and teammates remember him as a gentle giant who was loving and generous. He survived many highs and lows during his short stint in the NFL. But the ups and downs of his career must have taken a toll on him.
As an undrafted free agent in 2012, Robinson signed with the Steelers, who converted him to linebacker and put him on the field in 12 games. The next year, Pittsburgh traded him to the Eagles, but he was cut by Philadelphia in training camp. In 2013, A.D. played for the Broncos, Chargers and Redskins. The Redskins cut him during their 2014 training camp. This year, it seemed like things were looking up. A.D. signed with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats, professional team in Canada. He had every reason to be optimistic about joining a new team. But after a few years in the NFL, playing in Canada can feel like a step backwards for many players.
For those of us who watch games from the stands or from our couch, it’s hard to imagine how difficult it is to see your NFL dreams go up in smoke in the blink of an eye. The pressure to “make it” is unfathomable – the physical demands and the expectations from friends and family, not to mention the fear of being injured, demoted or fired. Players can go from being a top draft pick to winning the Super Bowl to finding themselves on the sidelines and out of a job. It happens often.
The painful depression felt by some is too common, often resulting from the sudden loss of income or no longer being part of a team. Even the biggest, strongest athletes are not immune to stress. Former players often report difficulties adjusting to life in the “real world” and experience feelings of withdrawal. Many players feel they have nowhere to go but down after hitting a career high before turning 30.
As a nurse, I know there is no silver bullet in avoiding stress and depression. But I strongly believe faith should be an essential foundation in life. It can be a powerful force in coping with stress by creating inner peace and fortitude. In addition, athletes need a strong emotional support system. They need help navigating those highs and lows. That unwavering support should start when our kids are young. As parents, our child athletes should be able to turn to us for help putting problems into perspective.
Of course, that is not our only job. We also need to educate ourselves on the signs of emotional stress and constantly watch out for them. Some of those signs are drastic changes in mood. Weight loss for no apparent reason and isolation are others.
There are resources available to help people and families struggling with depression and suicide. NFL Life Line has toll free number available to current and former players, coaches and their family members. It’s a confidential help line that provides professional support for people in emotional crises. Sadly, Adrian Robinson joins Kenny McKinley, Shane Dronett, Jovan Belcher and many others who didn’t get the help they needed in time.