This resonates (as a 40-year-old athlete who continues to ask himself every year whether to cleat up again..). I'm reminded of that scene from Ted lasso where Roy Kent equates his identity with being a footballer, and frames the transition to retirement as about locating a new identity.
Another important point here is that CTE looms large over many of these players. I recently wrote a Men's Health piece about a group of NFL players, one of whom is in his 60s and dealing with early-onset dementia as a result. Quarterbacks are somewhat insulated from the every-play micro-traumas that scientists think contribute significantly to CTE. However, this I imagine was a real consideration in his decision to return (or Giselle's frustration with his choice). Frustratingly, an industry-influenced group of doctors, trainers and sports leagues recently met to discuss this topic and did not acknowledge the explicit link between impact sports and CTE (citing the need to for research that takes other health issues into account). However, the whole thing reads like another industry-influenced board trying to obstruct the science so that the League can continue to operate with impunity.
This resonates (as a 40-year-old athlete who continues to ask himself every year whether to cleat up again..). I'm reminded of that scene from Ted lasso where Roy Kent equates his identity with being a footballer, and frames the transition to retirement as about locating a new identity.
Another important point here is that CTE looms large over many of these players. I recently wrote a Men's Health piece about a group of NFL players, one of whom is in his 60s and dealing with early-onset dementia as a result. Quarterbacks are somewhat insulated from the every-play micro-traumas that scientists think contribute significantly to CTE. However, this I imagine was a real consideration in his decision to return (or Giselle's frustration with his choice). Frustratingly, an industry-influenced group of doctors, trainers and sports leagues recently met to discuss this topic and did not acknowledge the explicit link between impact sports and CTE (citing the need to for research that takes other health issues into account). However, the whole thing reads like another industry-influenced board trying to obstruct the science so that the League can continue to operate with impunity.
Men's Health Piece: https://www.menshealth.com/health/a38749701/nfl-mental-health/
NYT Piece about the CTE Board Meeting: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/08/sports/football/cte-brain-trauma-concussions.html