Carson Wentz: NFL Players Can Be More Vulnerable Now

New Indianapolis Colts quarterback Carson Wentz says it’s becoming more acceptable for NFL players to open up about their struggles.

The mental health conversation has become a part of mainstream society. However, in the cutthroat world of elite sport, it hasn’t always been acceptable to show weakness.

“It’s sad that it wasn’t socially acceptable, but I think it’s more understood because I think everyone can relate,” Wentz said. 

“I think it’s OK, and people are realizing that it’s OK, to not be OK and to talk about it. Everyone’s got somebody in their life, whether it’s a counselor, teammate, friend, brother, wife, pastor, whatever that is, and if they don’t have that hopefully they can find that.”

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“I’ve been fortunate to have people in my life when things are going south or I’m struggling, to have an honest conversation, to refocus and reframe my mindset, and I think that’s so important for everybody, but especially in the NFL with all the pressures and all the things that get thrown at us it’s definitely been acceptable. 

“You see guys being honest and open and vulnerable, not all the time, but it’s becoming a little bit more normal and OK and I think it’s encouraging for people to see that, you know, us big strong football players can be vulnerable, can be real people that go through real stuff and that it’s OK to say ‘I’m struggling.’”

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Carson Wentz knows a thing or two about struggling after falling from grace with the Philadelphia Eagles. He says his move to Indy has been restorative for him.

“I really feel like I have a new passion for the game,” Carson Wentz said. “I’ve been high, I’ve been injured, I’ve been, now, benched, I’ve been traded, I’ve kinda seen a lot in five years, so whatever the game throws at me I’m ready.”