Tackling Life After Football with Former NFL Player Chris Borland | Week 3

Tackling Life After Football with Former NFL Player Chris Borland | Week 3
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In this episode of All Points North, we dive deep into the often-overlooked topic of mental health among professional athletes. Tami Romano, manager of the APN professional athletes program, teams up with former NFL players Anthony Fasano and Chris Borland for a candid conversation about stigma, masculinity, and the mental health challenges they faced both on and off the field.
Anthony Fasano, president of APN Athletics and a former football player, shares his insights into the pressure athletes face to appear tough, even when struggling. Chris Borland, who played just one year in the NFL, reflects on his decision to walk away from the game to protect his mental and physical health, and how stigma plays a role in keeping athletes silent.
Together, they explore how society’s views on masculinity, religion, and vulnerability often conflict with the mental health struggles many athletes face. They emphasize the importance of breaking the silence, connecting with others, and sharing their stories to reduce stigma and encourage more open conversations about mental health.
Join us as we unpack these powerful experiences and the lessons learned, with the hope of making mental health discussions more accessible to everyone, whether you’re an athlete or not. It’s a fun, engaging, and important chat that anyone can learn from!
mental health stigma, athlete mental health, football and mental health, Chris Borland NFL, tackling stigma, Anthony Fano football, professional athletes program, APN Athletics, vulnerability in sports, athlete struggles, football and masculinity, sports therapy, NFL mental health stories, stigma in football, masculinity and mental health, faith and football, religion and mental health, athlete transitions, football life after retirement, NFL brain injuries, breaking stigma, athlete advocacy, athlete mental health journey, football mental toll, NFL stories on mental health, APN mental health program, athlete life balance, vulnerability in football, sports and therapy connection, NFL players' mental health
#MentalHealthMatters #AthleteWellness #BreakingTheStigma #NFLStories #FootballAndLife #MindOverMatter #MenAndMentalHealth #TacklingStigma #AthleteStories #MentalHealthInSports #ChrisBorland #FootballJourney #AthleteAdvocacy #VulnerabilityIsStrength #LifeAfterFootball #SportsAndMentalHealth #FootballTalks #BeyondTheField #APNAthletics #RealConversations

[@thimbleyy]

Very interesting interview. I started playing football at 13 in 2013, and I delved into it deeply. Chris Borland’s retirement never quite sat right with me, and in many ways I related to his apprehensions with the sport. It’s alarming looking back on it that I resonated so much with his sentiment at the age of 14, but it didn’t keep me from pursuing it further. I finally quit after a season of college, and I believe it had really been brewing within me for a few years. Looking back, I think I got lucky concussion-wise, but I ended up with disc herniations, a knee reconstruction, and shoulder issues along with nerve issues in my hands and feet. I am in no way anti-football, but I do believe that delaying full-contact competition is a great idea overall for injury mitigation, especially in the context of concussions. I don’t regret playing football at all, I honestly believe it sent me down a far better path than I otherwise would’ve been on sitting in my room alone on my computer, which is what I did mostly before the age of 13. So happy I stumbled upon this interview! Great work folks.

[@thimbleyy]

Also, I agree with his “sports specialization” point; I was a football-only kid, and had never played a sport before it. My provincial-level coaches HAMMERED the point of being multi-sport athletes, but my high school and minor football coaches at the time were more worried about the kids not being available for every practice and game. It’s important to let kids be kids, and if a kid is a great athlete and is working hard in other avenues, I don’t believe he or she should be penalized for exceeding the expectations in some ways.

[@APNLodge]

Thank you so much for this feedback and for watching! We're so thrilled that you've enjoyed the episode, this is an extremely important subject to us as mental health professionals and anyone who will share their experience drives the conversation forward. Hope you enjoy the rest of the mini-series Tackling Stigma! If you've enjoyed this series, you should also check out our newest show The Circle of M with Marcus Smith II. New episodes air every Thursday!

[@kurtis-codes]

I've been waiting to hear what Chris had to say after all the concussions in the NFL lately!

[@APNLodge]

Thank you for listening! We're so grateful for Chris sharing his experience and take on football safety.

[@korpzmarcelfranca6825]

i wonder if borland has CTE today at 34 years old, because, if 90%+ college and NFL players have CTE, he might have some symptoms.