The NFL is known for its culture of hyper-masculine toughness and bravado. Talking about mental health hasn’t always been normalized or encouraged.
Indianapolis Colts owner Kalen Jackson wants to change that.
Jackson, who is also the daughter of NFL mainstay Jim Irsay, is opening up about her own struggles with anxiety as she makes a push to prioritize mental health in the NFL.
“I’ve struggled with anxiety my whole life, and my dad has openly struggled with substance use disorder and is doing really well thankfully in recovery. But it’s definitely something that’s shaped who we are and shaped our lives,” said Jackson. “It’s no different than any other illness. It’s not your fault and it’s nothing you did. Trying to get over that part — that’s why so many people don’t seek help.”
With her family, Jackson recently launched a Kicking the Stigma initiative, which raises awareness about mental health disorders and works to remove the shame and stigma often associated with those illnesses.
Jackson had a feeling that if NFL players were open about their mental health concerns, it could make others – both on and off the field – feel comfortable seeking help as well.
“I think especially in the NFL, people talk about how they’re tough, they’re strong, they’re supposed to be almost invincible — and to see them be vulnerable and to see them say ‘I’m not OK and that’s OK,’ that’s a big deal,” said Jackson.
Since the initiative launched, the Colts hosted a panel with their own linebacker Darius Leonard, as well as the Atlanta Falcons’ Hayden Hurst, and the Las Vegas Raiders’ Solomon Thomas and Darren Waller. The panel was hosted by NBC’s Carson Daly, who has also been open about his struggles with anxiety.
The players shared videos on social media and talked about their own struggles with mental health and how there is no shame in seeking help. During the panel, Leonard talked about struggling with the loss of his brother and best friend, who died in 2012. Hurst referred to his “anticipatory anxiety” about speaking on the panel had him worried throughout the morning. And Waller acknowledged using alcohol and drugs in the past as a way to deal with his mental health struggles.








