In the wake of his retirement from the NFL, former star player AJ Green is advocating for stronger mental health support within the league, particularly for players grappling with physical injuries. Green, who spent the majority of his illustrious career with the Cincinnati Bengals, concluded his 12-year journey in the NFL with the Arizona Cardinals, where he formed a close bond with teammate Rondale Moore.
Moore, whom Green affectionately referred to as his “third and oldest kid,” tragically took his own life in Indiana, following a long battle with injury-related struggles. This heartbreaking event has galvanized Green to speak out on the issue of mental health in professional sports, prompting him to pen a heartfelt piece for The Players’ Tribune.
“I believe there is still much room for improvement in how the NFL supports its players’ mental wellbeing,” Green expressed. “I suggest that it should be mandatory for players to consult an independent mental health counselor as part of their rehabilitation process when they sustain a major injury.”
He further proposed that should a player suffer a subsequent major injury, they should be required to continue seeing a mental health counselor for an extended period, even after their physical rehabilitation is complete. Green firmly believes that mental health care should be integrated alongside traditional medical treatments at NFL facilities.
‘And by also making it mandatory, if you have a second major injury, that you see an independent mental health counselor for an extended period of time, even after your rehab.’
To Green, mental health care should go hand in hand with other medical treatments at NFL facilities.
Although he’s best remembered for his time with the Cincinnati Bengals, AJ Green (pictured) finished his career in Arizona, where he briefly played with Rondale Moore
Moore is pictured during his time with the Arizona Cardinals, where he began his career
This, he hopes, will work to remove the stigma of mental health issues within the league.
‘None of that means anything if the people who are making the football decisions, in private, are viewing mental health issues how I feel like a lot of times they still get viewed: as a red flag,’ Green wrote. ‘That’s the truth. No one in any front office will ever say it out loud. No scout is ever gonna put it in a scouting report. But that’s how it’s viewed in this league by a lot of people.
‘Stories like Rondale’s will probably keep happening,’ he continued. ‘Because it means we’re telling players that having a mental health issue is gonna f*** with their money. And if we’re telling players that, then we’re creating an incentive for them to lie about their mental health.
‘And if players lie about their mental health, then they’re going to feel shame about their mental health. And they’re not going to get the help they need — and whatever issues they’re facing are not going to get better, and are probably going to get worse.’
The NFL and the players’ union established a mental health mandate in 2019, requiring all teams to employ a licensed behavioral health therapist.
Moore died last month from what police believe to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Moore’s passing was the second sudden death to rock the NFL this past season following Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland (pictured)
His passing was the second sudden death to rock the NFL this past season following Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland, who shot himself in the head after evading Texas police on November 6. Kneeland, who was reportedly battling mental illness, sent his family a group text saying ‘goodbye’ during his police chase, according to 911 dispatchers in Texas.
A Harvard study published in January found the suicide rate of former NFL players spiked in comparison to their NBA and Major League Baseball counterparts from 2011 through 2019.
Published in the Journal of Neurotrauma, the Football Players Study at Harvard University tracked deaths among NFL, MLB and NBA alums over a 40-year period beginning in 1979. Over that time, there were 101 reported suicides among former athletes from those leagues, but it’s the NFL that is disproportionately represented over the final decade.
According to researchers, the suicide rate of ex-NFL players was 2.6 times higher than ex-NBA and MLB players. Those former NFL stars include legendary San Diego Chargers linebacker Junior Seau, ex-Chicago Bears safety Dave Duerson and the Atlanta Falcons’ Ray Easterling, all of whom were posthumously diagnosed with the degenerative brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
But study co-author Rachel Grashow pointed to head trauma as the lone potential factor in the findings. Rather, she believes there are a number of causes that need to be studied at greater length. She also referred to a 2024 study that found a third of former NFL players battle health issues such as low testosterone, depression, and sleep apnea.
Curiously, players dealing with those health issues were more likely to think about self harm than those who believe they’re suffering from CTE, which can only be diagnosed posthumously.
Seau died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in 2012. He’s since been diagnosed with CTE
Golden Tate gets a concussion test in 2019 – two years before retiring. He now does reality TV
And as for her own research, Grashow believes the rise in suicides among NFL players begins around 2011 because that time period coincides with enhanced awareness about CTE and its consequences.
‘We believe 2011 was a pivotal year for that conversation, when the publication of scientific studies on brain injury, neurodegenerative disease, and football accelerated,’ she said in an interview with the Harvard School of Public Health.
‘In particular, CTE—a neuropathological condition that is determined only through autopsy, and that cannot yet be diagnosed or treated in living patients—gained attention in a series of highly publicized research articles. There were also a number of high-profile deaths by suicide among some NFL players after 2010 that were discussed publicly.’
Co-author Marc Weisskopf stressed that ‘there are many possible contributing factors,’ including the potential for misleading data.
‘It’s also possible that deaths among NFL players that would not have been classified as suicides by medical examiners prior to 2011 may have been labeled a suicide after 2010, as a result of greater awareness of issues related to head trauma,’ said Weisskopf. Additionally, high profile suicides have been known to cause a ‘copycat’ or contagion effect called the Werther effect. More research is needed to determine the individual contributions of each of these factors.’
Both the NFL and the players’ union, the NFLPA, used the study’s release to encourage ex-players to address symptoms that can lead to suicidal thoughts.
Moore graduated from Purdue in 2020, completing a degree in selling and sales management while earning an impressive 3.5 GPA. His college coach described him as a ‘joy’ to work with
In response to publication of the paper this week, both NFL and NFLPA encouraged retired players to use resources available for treatment of symptoms that can lead to suicide.
‘We believe in taking a science-first, data-driven approach to our members’ health and safety, and findings from studies such as this one by the Football Players Health Study conducted at Harvard University can help players make informed health and safety decisions during and after their football careers,’ read a statement from the NFLPA, which funded the independent study.
‘Our union offers a number of dedicated health resources to active and former players. We regularly encourage players to take advantage of these programs, along with maintaining check-ups with their personal healthcare providers, as part of a holistic approach to their physical and mental well-being.’
NFL vice president of wellness and clinical services Dr. Nyaka NiiLampti also pushed for players to use the mental health resources available to them.
‘This study underscores the importance of the resources the NFL and NFLPA provide to former players, and we encourage former players to utilize these resources to identify and seek treatment when they are concerned about their health,’ NiiLampti said.
‘The hope is that no one — especially within the NFL family — ever feels alone or unsupported, and we will continue our efforts to make this a reality.’
If you or someone you know needs help, please call or text the confidential 24/7 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the US on 988. There is also an online chat available at 988lifeline.org.
