If you’re playing professional football that leaves no doubt that you’re a champion on the field, but recently at Flawless we celebrated some champions off the field. In our Flawless Football Feature, we highlighted three amazing football players who are leaders in the football community but are also helping to change the conversation around mental health. Dak Prescott, Brandon Brooks, and Hayden Hurst have turned their lived experiences into advocacy that inspires us all.
Our Flawless Football Feature was kicked off with Dallas Cowboys’ quarterback Dak Prescott. Dak Prescott made waves this year prior to the start of the 2020 season when he opened up about his personal mental health experiences. Dak publicly shared that he was experiencing anxiety, depression, and insomnia as he was simultaneously managing the stress of quarantine and the tragic loss of his brother who died by suicide. Dak believes that “Being a leader is about being genuine and being real.” We love what Dak stands for and celebrate him for his bravery, leadership, and advocacy.
After putting the spotlight on Dak, we featured Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive lineman Brandon Brooks. Brandon has been open about his experiences with anxiety, as these challenges have resulted in him missing five games in his professional career. However, he never lets this deter him or break his spirit. In fact, the last time he missed a game due to anxiety he took to social media to reaffirm that he is “NOT ashamed or embarrassed by this nor what I go through daily.” We recognize Brandon for being vulnerable and honest about his lived experiences and for being such a powerful leader!
Closing out Flawless Football Feature was Atlanta Falcons’ tight end, Hayden Hurst. Like the others, Hayden has been very open about his mental health experiences which have included depression and thoughts of suicide. Now, Hayden and his mother Cathy run the Hayden Hurst Family Foundation where they focus on mental health and suicide prevention. We acknowledge this dynamic duo for their life-saving advocacy work. And are especially grateful to Hayden, for having the courage to remind us all that “it’s okay to not be okay.”
As the NFL regular season nears its end we know that the hard work of these athletes and dedication to mental health will continue. And this is something that may already be in the works. While they may be competitors on the field, Dak Prescott and Hayden Hurst plan to be teammates off the field. They shared a heartwarming moment after their game where Hayden Hurst invites Dak Prescott to join in on the work he does through his foundation for mental health and suicide prevention. We honor these men for their impact being so much bigger than just football and for being Flawless!
