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The death of Rondale Moore shook the NFL to its core. The young wide receiver's apparent suicide left no one unmoved, so much so that Philadelphia Eagles star A.J. Brown took to social media to send a message of faith and empowerment to his fellow players.
This weekend, the NFL had to cope with another young player's death. Moore, the star wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings, was found at his home with a gunshot wound, apparently self-inflicted.
As usual, messages of condolence and mourning from teams, players, and the league flooded the internet. However, few had the courage to do what Brown did this Monday.
In a raw Instagram video, the Super Bowl LIX champion with the Eagles revealed a personal secret that left many speechless: he, too, contemplated suicide.
A.J. Brown's emotional confession
"I myself represent a mental health advocate," Brown asserted in the video, recorded from his car. "I take pride in my mental health; it's something that I practice each and every day."
He then admitted that he, too, succumbed to external pressure and what others said about him, leading him to contemplate suicide:
I once thought that was the way. I was 23 years old, and I thought the same thing.
He urged his fellow players not to take "the easy way out" and to focus on what truly matters. "Man, I have so much life ahead of me. I have so many family members who love me. I have accomplished so much."
The father of two spoke openly about his faith, saying that the only thing that truly fulfills him in this world is Jesus Christ, calling his talent a gift from God. But he also recommended seeking professional help.
Brown asserted that faith and therapy are the best path
Seek God,"Brown advised. "Go talk to Him first and foremost before you even go talk to a therapist, but do go talk to a therapist. Reach out to your loved ones.
He reminded everyone that progress is at their own pace. "Whatever failure you think you've had, you have to keep going. There's no failure in this life. You're on your own timeline."
Finally, the Eagles star emphasized, "We're more than this football game. We are human beings with so much more out there to accomplish. Don't end like that."