Life after football can be tough.
You dedicate your entire life to the sport you love and then, one day, your career is over. Once you stop playing in the NFL, your life can change in unpredictable ways. You may feel alone, missing the people you once saw every day. Maybe your financial situation is worse, or you and your family are adjusting to a difficult transition to your next career. You may be dealing with chronic pain or physical difficulties caused by an injury.
Like any major life change, retirement may leave you grappling with unfamiliar thoughts and emotions, or feeling overwhelmed or as if your life is in crisis.
Sometimes these shifts take place long after you’ve left the field; they may not even be directly related to your career in football. Issues like aging, declining health, loss of loved ones, and even substance abuse can all be difficult challenges to deal with. Life can be stressful, no matter where you’ve been or how far you’ve come.
“Whole New Game”
Reach out. We’re here for you.
You don’t have to go through tough times alone. If your issues are reaching a crisis point, free, confidential support is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Just call the NFL Life Line at (800) 506-0078 or chat online to talk to a trained counselor who can help you work through whatever you’re dealing with. It’s operated by leading national providers of crisis counseling services who are entirely independent of NFL staff, so no confidential information about individual calls or callers is shared with the NFL, its teams, or any other organization.
The NFL Life Line is here for the entire NFL family: current and former NFL players, coaches, team and league staff, and their family members. So if you’re concerned about someone you care about, call to learn about resources and tools to help you and your friends and family handle whatever issues you may be facing. Take the first step and call the NFL Life Line today.
No matter how long it’s been since you played in the NFL, you have a network of resources designed to assist retired players in finding success in life after football, from free preventive screenings and access to top neurological care to specialized transition programs and career boot camps. You might be retired from the NFL, but you’re still part of the NFL family—and you’re never alone.
You can also learn more about available resources using the links below.