Is There Life After Football?

by James A. Holstein

  8. Weir, David R., James S. Jackson, and Amanda Sonnega. 2009. “Study of Retired NFL Players.” Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Institute for Social Research (hereafter Player Care study; see http://www.ns.umich.edu/Releases/2009/Sep09/FinalReport.pdf, retrieved 7/7/13).

  9. O’Toole, 2006, p. 92.

  10. See Feinstein 2005.

  11. Ibid., p. 218.

  12. Lane, Austen. N.d. “What’s It Like to Get Whacked?” SI.com. http://mmqb.si.com/2013/07/25/what-its-like-to-get-whacked/?sct=hp_t11_a0&eref=sihp, retrieved 7/25/13.

  13. See S. Coakley 2006, who similarly observes that uncertainty, fueled by hope and optimism, produces a cognitive unwillingness or unpreparedness to move on.

  14. See Coakley, Jay J. 1983. “Leaving Competitive Sport: Retirement or Rebirth?” Quest 35: 1–11.

  15. Mike and Mike. September 26, 2013. ESPN2-TV.

  16. Research interview #17.

  17. Research interview #60.

  18. Player Care study.

  19. See Berns, Nancy. 2011. Closure: The Rush to End Grief and What It Costs Us. Philadelphia: Temple University Press, for a discussion of how “closure talk” is used to manage the meaning of loss. Also see O’Toole 2006. O’Toole’s discussion underscores the degree to which retirement is seldom voluntary and, from wives’ vantage point, not really retirement at all.

  20. See Sacks, Harvey. 1992. Lectures on Conversation, Volumes 1 and 2. Cambridge, MA: Blackwell, on membership categorization and the formulation of meaning.

  21. See Adler and Adler 1991; Ebaugh, H.R.F. 1988. Becoming an Ex: The Process of Role Exit. Chicago: University of Chicago Press.

  22. See Ebaugh 1988.

  23. Ibid., p. 138.

  24. Ibid., p. 142.

  25. Research interview #50.

  26. See J. Coakley 1983; Greendorfer, Susan L., and Elaine M. Blinde. 1985. “Retirement from Intercollegiate Sport: Theoretical and Empirical Considerations.” Sociology of Sport Journal 2: 101–10.

  27. McPherson, B.D. 1980. “Retirement from Professional Sport: The Process and Problems of Occupational and Psychological Adjustment.” Sociological Symposium 30: 126–33; Sinclair, D.A., and Orlick, T. 1993. “Positive Transitions from High-Performance Sport.” Sport Psychologist 7: 138–50; Swain, D.A. 1991. “Withdrawal from Sport and Schlossberg’s Model of Transitions.” Sociology of Sport Journal 8: 152–60; Taylor, J., and B.C. Ogilvie. 1998. “Career Transitions among Elite Athletes: Is There Life after Sports,” pp. 647–62, in Williams, J.M. (ed.). 2000. Applied Sport Psychology: Personal Growth to Peak Performance, 4th ed. Mountain View, CA: Mayfield; Torregrosa, M., M. Boixados, L. Valiente, and J. Cruz. 2004. “Elite Athletes Image of Retirement: The Way to Relocation in Sport.” Psychology of Sport and Exercise 5: 35–43.

  28. Gallmeier, Charles. 1987. “Dinosaurs and Prospects: Toward a Sociology of the Compressed Career,” pp. 98–106, in Mamoudi, K.M., B. Parlin, and M. Zussman (eds.). Sociological Inquiry: A Humanistic Perspective, 4th ed. Dubuque, IA: Kendall/Hunt; Taylor, J., and B.C. Ogilvie. 1994. “A Conceptual Model of Adaptation to Retirement among Athletes.” Journal of Applied Sport Psychology 6:1–20; Sinclair and Orlick 1993.

  29. Lavallee, D., and P. Wylleman. 2000. Career Transitions in Sport: International Perspectives. Morgantown, WV: Fitness Information Technology.

  30. Taylor and Ogilvie 1998.

  31. Lavallee and Wylleman 2000; Torregrosa et al. 2004; Webb, W.M., S.A. Nasco, S. Riley, and B. Headrick. 1995. “Athlete Identity and Reactions to Retirement from Sports.” Journal of Sport Behavior 21: 338–62.

  32. McPherson 1980, Taylor and Ogilvie 1994, Webb et al. 1995.

  33. Adler and Adler 1991, McPherson 1980, Sinclair and Orlick 1993, Webb et al. 1995. For contrast, see also Greendorfer and Blinde 1985.

  34. See J. Coakley 1983.

  35. See, for example, Herman Edwards on Mike and Mike. January 25, 2013. ESPN2-TV.

  36. “NFL’s Sign-and-Retire Club.” N.d. SI.com. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/1007/nfl.sign.and.retire.one-day.contracts/content.1.html, retrieved 7/5/13.

  37. Katzowitz, Josh. May 30, 2012. “Kordell Stewart Gets His Closure, Officially Retires from Football.” CBSSports.com. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/eye-on-football/19205582/kordell-stewart-gets-his-closure-officially-retires-from-football, retrieved 7/5/13.

  38. “NFL’s Sign-and-Retire Club,” n.d.

  39. Research interview #40.

  40. Research interview #03.

  41. Research interview #17.

  42. Chadiha, May 31, 2012

  43. Roberts, Jeff. May 2, 2013. “NFL Retirement101: Former Giant Learns to Move On.” NorthJersey.com. http://www.northjersey.com/sports/205723211_NFL_Retirement_101.html?page=all, retrieved 7/1/13.

  44. Youngblood, Kent. August 24, 2012. “Tackling the Post-Football Void.” Star-Tribune.com. http://www.startribune.com/printarticle/?id=167393215, retrieved 12/31/12.

  45. See Messner 1992.

  46. Research interview #42.

  47. Chadiha, May 31, 2012.

  48. S. Coakley 2006, p. 91 (research interview).

  49. Ibid., p. 92.

  50. Ibid.

  51. Research interview #24.

  52. Ibid.

  53. Research interview #60.

  54. J. Coakley 1983.

  55. Ibid. Also see Taylor and Ogilvie 1994; Taylor and Ogilvie 1998; Taylor, J., and B.C. Ogilvie. 2001. “Career Termination among Athletes,” pp. 187–99, in Singer, R.N., H.A. Hausenblas, and C.M. Janelle (eds.). Handbook of Sport Psychology. New York: John Wiley.

  56. S. Coakley 2006, p. 94 (research interview).

  57. Ibid., p. 91.

  58. Research interview #28.

  59. Eisen 2007, p. 241. Also see Bernstein 2009 for Ahmad Rashad’s account of his “perfect exit.”

  60. Dunne, Tyler. June 16, 2013. “Donald Driver Showered by Love form Loyal Supporters at Softball Game” JSOnline. http://www.jsonline.com/sports/packers/donald-driver-showered-by-love-from-loyal-supporters-at-softball-game-b9934975z1-211767161.html, retrieved 6/17/13.

  CHAPTER 4. A LIFETIME OF HURT

  1. Jenkins, Sally, Rick Maese, and Scott Clement. May 16, 2013. “Do No Harm: Retired NFL Players Endure a Lifetime of Hurt.” Washingtonpost.com. http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/feature/wp/2013/05/16/do-no-harm-retired-nfl-players-endure-a-lifetime-of-hurt/, retrieved 5/21/13.

  2. Doyel, Gregg. December 23, 2010. “NFL Is Killing Its Players and League Doesn’t Care.” CBSsports.com. http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/story/14477196/nfl-is-killing-its-players-and-league-doesnt-care, retrieved 7/26/17.

  3. Steele, David. September 1, 2002. “Adding Insult to Injury: Most Pro Football Players Face a Future of Disability and Pain.” SFGate.com. http://www.sfgate.com/health/article/Adding-Insult-to-Injury-Most-pro-football-2775786.php#ixzz2Okh1xKt1, retrieved 3/27/13.

  4. Crossman, Mark. July 7, 2011. “John Mackey and Other Retired NFL Players Experience Living Hell.” Sportingnews.com. http://aol.sportingnews.com/nfl/story/2011-07-07/john-mackey-and-other-retired-nfl-players-experience-living-hell, retrieved 3/27/13.

  5. Epstein, David. May 21, 2012. “Dead Wrong: Two Studies Refute Reports in the Media about Former Players’ Life Expectancy.” SIVault.com. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1198483/, retrieved 4/6/13. Also see Player Care study.

  6. Jenkins, Maese, and Clement, May 16, 2013.

  7. King, Peter. December 12, 2011. “One Team, 25 Years On.” SIVault. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1192868/, retrieved 4/6/13.

  8. Rosenthal, Gregg. March 20, 2013. “NFL Rule Changes Cause Controversy, Draw Ire.” NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap1000000152262/article/nfl-rule-changes-cause-controversy-draw-ire, retrieved 9/29/13.

  9. Smith, Michael. March 29, 2013. “Polamalu Says Players Should Have a Vote in Rule Changes.” NBCSports.com. http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2013/03/29/polamalu-says-players-should-have-a-vote-in-rule-change
s/, retrieved 9/29/13.

  10. Jenkins, Maese, and Clement, May 16, 2013.

  11. “NFL Retirees Happy with Football Career Despite Lasting Pain.” N.d. Washingtonpost.com. http://www.washingtonpost.com/page/2010-2019/Washington-Post/2013/05/17/National-Politics/Polling/release_236.xml, retrieved 9/27/13.

  12. Player Care study.

  13. Jenkins, Maese, and Clement, May 16, 2013; Player Care study; Dryden, Jim. January 28, 2011. “Retired NFL Players Misuse Painkillers More than General Population.” News.WUSTL.com. http://news.wustl.edu/news/Pages/21789.aspx, retrieved 3/27/13.

  14. “In Re: National Football League Players’ Concussion Injury Litigation.” August 29, 2013. ESPN.com. http://a.espncdn.com/pdf/2013/0829/nfl_concussion_litigation_settlement.pdf, retrieved 11/3/13; Alternate Dispute Resolution Center. N.d. “NFL, Retired Players Resolve Concussion Litigation; Court-Appointed Mediator Hails ‘Historic’ Agreement.” ESPN.com. http://a.espncdn.com/pdf/2013/0829/nfl_concussion_press_release.pdf, retrieved 11/3/13; Fainaru, Steve, and Mark Fainaru-Wada. September 20, 2013. “Some Players May Be out of NFL Deal.” ESPN.com. http://espn.go.com/espn/otl/story/_/id/9690036/older-players-cut-nfl-settlement-concerns-growing-whether-enough-money-exists, retrieved 10/2/13.

  15. Smith, Stephanie. August 20, 2013. “NFL and Ex-Players Reach Deal in Concussion Lawsuit.” CNN.com. http://www.cnn.com/2013/08/29/health/nfl-concussion-settlement/index.html?hpt=hp_t2, retrieved 8/29/13.

  16. Fainaru-Wada, Mark, and Steve Fainaru. 2013. League of Denial. New York: Crown Archetype (hereafter League of Denial).

  17. “NFL Retirees Happy with Football Career Despite Lasting Pain,” n.d.; Jenkins, Maese, and Clement, May 16, 2013.

  18. Player Care study. This tremendous difference is partially a feature of comparing probabilities of an extremely rare occurrence among younger men. In the general population only 0.1 percent report such diagnoses—that is, one out of 1,000. Only 1.2 percent of former players of this age have such diagnoses—12 out of 1,000. Therefore, it takes merely 11 additional cases per 1,000 to make the set of diagnoses 19 times more likely. Looked at it this way, there is only a one percentage point difference. However, the same figures also show that while such symptoms virtually never appear in younger men, nearly two out of a hundred—that’s about one per NFL roster—are going to experience one of these conditions as relatively young men.

  19. Lehman, E., M. Hein, S. Baron, and C. Gersic. 2012. “Neurodegenerative Causes of Death among Retired National Football League Players.” Neurology 79, published online September 5, 2012, as 10.1212/WNl.0b013e31826da150, retrieved 10/15/12.

  20. Daneshvar et al. 2011. “Long-Term Consequences: Effects on Normal Development Profile after Concussion.” Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Clinics of North America 22: 683–700. Also see League of Denial.

  21. “The Frontline Interviews: Leigh Steinberg.” N.d. PBS.org. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sports/league-of-denial/the-frontline-interview-leigh-steinberg/#seg4, retrieved 10/12/13.

  22. “The Frontline Interviews: Life After Football: Steve Young.” N.d. PBS.org http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/oral-history/league-of-denial/life-after-football, retrieved 10/12/13.

  23. “The Frontline Interviews: Life After Football: Jim Otto.” N.d. PBS.org http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sports/league-of-denial/the-frontline-interview-jim-otto/, retrieved 10/14/13.

  24. League of Denial, ch. 5.

  25. League of Denial.

  26. Gavette, Brandon, Robert A. Stern, and Ann C. McKee. 2011. “Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy: A Potential Late Effect of Sport-Related Concussive and Subconcussive Head Trauma.” Clinics in Sports Medicine 30: 179–88. Also see League of Denial.

  27. “What is CTE?” N.d. BU.edu. http://www.bu.edu/cste/about/what-is-cte/, retrieved 10/15/13.

  28. Stern, Robert, D. Riley, D. Daneshvar, C. Nowinski, R. Cantu, and A. McKee. 2011. “Long-Term Consequences of Repetitive Brain Trauma: Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.” Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation 3: S460–67; McKee, A., et al. 2012. “The Spectrum of Disease in Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.” Brain 2012: 1–22.

  29. League of Denial.

  30. “The Frontline Interviews: Ann McKee.” N.d. PBS.org http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/sports/league-of-denial/the-frontline-interview-ann-mckee/, retrieved 11/1/13.

  31. League of Denial.

  32. “The Frontline Interviews: Ann McKee,” n.d. Recently, researchers have made progress toward identifying CTE in the living. At UCLA, neuroscientists using a brain-imaging tool have identified the abnormal tau proteins associated with CTE in five living former NFL players. Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett has recently been diagnosed with CTE and is showing the classic symptoms: his memory is fading, he gets lost frequently, he’s depressed, and his family fears being around him because of his erratic behavior. See Champeau, Rachel. January 22, 2013. “UCLA Study First to Image Concussion-related Abnormal Brain Proteins in Retired NFL Players.” Newsroom.UCLA.edu. http://newsroom.ucla.edu/portal/ucla/ucla-researchers-first-to-image-242445.aspx, retrieved 11/2/13.

  33. For teammate Michael Oriard’s speculation about Tyrer’s case, see Bateman, May 3, 2012.

  34. League of Denial, p. 284.

  35. League of Denial.

  36. Ibid.

  37. Stern et al. 2011.

  38. “The Frontline Interviews: Life After Football: Jim Otto,” n.d.

  39. Willner, Barry. August 30, 2013. “NFL Concussion Settlement Draws Mixed Reaction from Former Players.” Huffingtonpost.com. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/08/30/nfl-concussion-settlement-former-players_n_3845954.html, retrieved 9/1/13.

  40. Burke, Monte. August 17, 2013. “How the National Football League Can Reach $25 Billion in Annual Revenues.” Forbes.com. http://www.forbes.com/sites/monteburke/2013/08/17/how-the-national-football-league-can-reach-25-billion-in-annual-revenues/, retrieved 11/2/13.

  41. Gershman, Jacob. January 28, 2014. “Concern Raised Over Opt-out Terms of NFL Concussion Settlement.” WSJ.com. http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2014/01/28/concern-raised-over-opt-out-terms-of-nfl-concussion-settlement/; McCann, Michael. January 14, 2014. “What Rejection of Settlement Means to Concussion Case Against the NFL.” SI.com. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20140114/judge-rejects-proposed-nfl-concussion-settlement/; both retrieved 2/4/14; Associated Press. July 7, 2014. “Federal Judge Approves NFL Concussion Settlement.” NFL.com. http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000363672/article/federal-judge-approves-nfl-concussion-settlement; retrieved 7/8/14.

  42. Willner, August 30, 2013; Banks, Donald. August 29, 2013. “Former Players: Devil Is in the Details with the NFL Concussion Settlement.” SI.com. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/nfl/news/20130829/nfl-concussion-lawsuit-settlement-player-reaction-kevin-mawae/, retrieved 4/22/14.

  43. Wolfley, Bob. September 18, 2013. “Dorsey Levins Rips Settlement of Concussion Lawsuit against NFL.” JSOnline.com. http://www.jsonline.com/sports/dorsey-levens-rips-settlement-of-concussion-lawsuit-against-nfl-b99101255z1-224335851.html#ixzz2jWFbq1Xq, retrieved 11/1/13.

  44. League of Denial, p. 337.

  45. Finley, Jermichael. N.d. “Jermichael Finley: Fear, Relief, Resolve.” SI.com. http://mmqb.si.com/2013/10/29/jermichael-finley-packers-injury-first-person/, retrieved 10/30/13.

  46. Jenkins, Maese, and Clement, May 16, 2013.

  47. Research interview #27.

  48. Player Care study.

  49. Knapp, Gwen. November 2, 2008. “Otto Paid Big Price for Football Glory.” SFGate.com. http://www.sfgate.com/sports/article/Otto-paid-big-price-for-football-glory-3262920.php#ixzz2OlAsOOV6, retrieved 3/27/13; Otto, Jim. 1999. Jim Otto: The Pain of Glory. Champaign, IL: Sports Publishing; League of Denial.

  50. Research interview #42.

  51. Ibid.

  52. Whitmer, Michael. October 17, 2013. “Agent: No Way to Know When Rob Gronkowski Returns.” Bostonglobe.com. http://www.bostonglobe.com/sports/2013/10/17/agent-way-know-when-rob-gronkowski-returns/Bx
K1pcwxVyz0acS9ZXSnxL/story.html, retrieved 10/18/13. Gronkowski’s bad luck persisted when he finally returned at midseason. On December 8, a low hit from a defensive back blew out his ACL and he was sidelined for at least the rest of the 2013 season.

  53. Nack, William. May 7, 2001. “The Wrecking Yard.” SIVault.com. http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1022464/, retrieved 6/5/13.

  54. Steele, David. September 1, 2002. “Adding Insult to Injury: Most Pro Football Players Face a Future of Disability and Pain.” SFgate.com. http://www.sfgate.com/health/article/Adding-Insult-to-Injury-Most-pro-football-2775786.php#ixzz2Okh1xKt1, retrieved 3/27/13.

  55. Research interview #30.

  56. Jenkins, Maese, and Clement, May 16, 2013.

  57. Nack, May 7, 2001.

  58. Research interview #20.

  59. Research interview #24.

  60. Jenkins, Maese, and Clement, May 16, 2013.

  61. Player Care study.

  62. Ibid. Fifteen percent of older alums also report being unable to work due to disability, but this percentage is the same as for similarly aged men in the general population.

  63. Ibid.

  64. Research interview #20.

  65. Besinger, Ken. September 5, 2013. “Deion Sanders, Critic of NFL Concussion Settlement, Seeks Workers’ Comp.” LATimes.com. http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-deion-sanders-brain-20130906; Schwarz, Alan. April 7, 2010. “Two Ex-players Leverage Connections in NFL Workers’ Comp Cases.” NYTimes.com. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/08/sports/football/08lawyers.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0; both retrieved 10/18/13.

  66. “Total Knee Replacement Cost.” N.d. Kneereplacementcost.com. http://www.kneereplacementcost.com/; Kliff, Sarah. February 12, 2013. “How Much Does Hip Surgery Cost?” Washingtonpost.com. http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/02/12/how-much-does-hip-surgery-cost-somewhere-between-10000-and-125000/; both retrieved 10/19/13.

  67. Brownhill, Stacy. February 2, 2011. “Aches and Games.” Wweek.com. http://www.wweek.com/portland/article-16892-aches_and_games.html, retrieved 10/19/13.

  68. Player Care study.

  69. Ibid. A significant portion of former players’ insurance plans don’t cover prescription medications, and even fewer have dental insurance. See Appendix 2, “Retirement Benefits.”