Titans receiver A.J. Brown opens up about depression, encourages others to get help

Football has always been a tough-guy sport, and that’s led to a lot of players, coaches, and executives feeling that they couldn’t be open about their struggles with depression over the years. But in today’s NFL, the stigma seems to be going away. Recently, Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson took a three-game break from the game to deal with his own feelings of anxiety and depression. This decision was supported by the team. In late October, Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley made a similar decision to step away from the game to deal with his own mental well-being. This was also supported by the team.

On Thursday, Titans receiver A.J. Brown discussed his own bouts with depression, brought about by a video he recently released on social media.

“I posted the video because I wanted to encourage others to seek help whenever they are down,” Brown said, via the Titans’ official site. “I didn’t take into consideration really what depression really was. I always just brushed it off. I grew up just brushing off my feelings, and it got the best of me. I just wanted to put out a positive message that I’m still here, I’m growing, I’m still learning, I’m blessed, and I have a lot to be grateful for, and someone was there for me.

“So, reach out to your loved ones and ask them how they are doing and listen to them, because it is important.

“I know for me, walking around with a smile, that’s easy to put on – everybody can do it. But when we go home, some of us have real-life problems. That’s why I said: Just talk to someone, reach out.”

Brown also said that he considered taking his own life a year ago, but that his 1 1/2-year-old daughter got him through that dark time.

“[She’s] the reason I am still going today,” Brown said. “I don’t even have the words for it. She gives me strength, and she is who I play for. Without my little girl, I don’t know where I’d be.”

Brown said that a lot of people in his orbit have reached out to him with messages of encouragement and suuprt, and he specifically thanked Titans head coach Mike Vrabel for his support.

“I am here, I have so much to be grateful for, I’m blessed,” Brown said. “I know I wake up every day and get to play the game that I love. I have loved ones around me that love me dearly. I just wanted to help someone. Hopefully I can save a life, or anything. I just want to encourage everyone to seek help if you are down and you are depressed, and just try to get help.

“Us as men, our feelings aren’t too much cared about. So, get things off your chest. It’s OK to talk to someone. Seek help. You are not too tough to talk to someone. … Mental health is real, just like physical health. You have to take care of your brain just like you take care of your body.”

A study conducted in 2019 conducted by 13 medical experts concluded that “seasons of play and playing position in the NFL are associated with lasting neuropsychiatric health deficits. Additionally, poor cognition-related quality of life, depression, and anxiety appear to be associated with concussion in the long term.”