It’s no secret that football is a dangerous sport—but when it comes to the NFL, it’s almost unthinkable that someone could die from it.
I still remember when I heard the news about Sean Taylor, the top safety for the Washington Redskins. Unfortunately, he passed away from a gunshot wound in 2007. I was in shock, as I had been following his career since he was first drafted. He was only 24 years of age.
It was heart-wrenching to hear how he was sadly taken away from us, but it was tragic to think of the reasons behind his death. Little did we know that tragically, he was specifically targeted by intruders while trying to protect his family. It was an absolute tragedy and something no parent, girlfriend or fan should ever have to endure.
The Sean Taylor tragedy was a harsh reminder of how dangerous the NFL really was. It was a harsh reminder of how unforgiving the environment and lifestyle were. I felt angry and helpless as I heard how he was taken away from us for no reason. Despite his prominence in the league, he was taken away too soon.
In the years since Sean Taylor’s death, I’ve heard of a few other cases of people dying in the NFL. One of the most tragic and heartbreaking was that of Junior Seau, a linebacker popularly known among Chargers fans. He committed suicide, despite the fact that he was beloved by his players and friends. The cause (of Seau’s suicide) has yet to be confirmed, but his death wrenches my heart whenever I think of it.
Another case that comes to mind is Korey Stringer, an offensive lineman who passed away in 2001 while training with the Minnesota Vikings. It was a tragedy as he was incredibly young and just starting his career. He was in excellent physical condition, but a deadly heat exhaustion took him away from us. His death was a wake up call about how the NFL can be an unforgiving environment, no matter how fit you are.
Most recently, there was the case of Tyler Sash, a cornerback who played for the New York Giants. He passed away in 2015—just two years after he retired—due to a mixture of painkillers and other drugs. It was devastating to think of how a young man whose life and career was cut short due to his addiction. It was a shocking reminder of how the culture of NFL can potentially be a contributing factor to the deaths of its own players.
Overall, it’s incredibly tragic when someone loses their life in the NFL—especially when it could’ve been avoided. Seeing so many promising careers cut tragically short has reminded me of how important it is to ensure that the league has better measures in place to protect its players. It’s a reminder to never take life for granted, no matter how invincible or fortunate we might think we are.
Sadly, I’ve also seen how NFL players die after they retire. They die of head trauma and concussion-related issues, a consequence of the physical toll football can cause on the body. It’s deeply disturbing to think that loved ones all around the country will continue to hear of deaths in the NFL for years to come, because of the physical and emotional pressure the game can put on players.
That’s why I feel a sense of responsibility to promote awareness for better safety and concussion regulations that need to be put in place. We must take action to ensure young players today realize that there are potential and serious repercussions to sustained head and body trauma during a game.
It’s of utmost importance that we make the game as safe as possible, and that we find ways to protect those who play it. Brain injuries can be debilitating, and we must make sure that all players have the support they need. I believe that we can do this if we tackle the issue head on and find ways to promote health and safety.
I urge everyone to take action when it comes to promoting better health and safety protocols in the NFL. It’s a necessary step if we want to make sure that no one suffers a premature death or disability due to football. Let’s all be aware of the potential risks and work together to make football safer.