This article discusses suicide and suicidal ideation. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 or chat at 988lifeline.org.
Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Rondale Moore died yesterday at 25 years old. The NFL world continues to react to his death as the investigation continues in Floyd County, Indiana.
Current and former NFL players have paid tribute to the former Purdue Boilermakers and Arizona Cardinals wideout. Maxx Crosby, Hollywood Brown, J.J. Watt and Raheem Mostert were among the many to post to social media in Moore’s honor.
One former player shared his insight criticizing the league for its handling of mental health issues in players.
‘Imma keep it a stack.. I don’t care, I’m retired I’ll say what I want,’ former defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko wrote on X. ‘These NFL teams come out here and post these mental health awareness posts talking about they care about players ‘don’t be afraid to reach out’ etc. All they care about is what you bring to the table when it’s game day. Most players don’t wanna get help inside the building of an NFL organization because they know you’ll get looked at differently. You go to a staff member tell em you struggling watch how different they start treating and looking at you. I seen it first hand.’
Fehoko went undrafted in 2020 out of LSU but played for five years in the NFL. He spent the 2020 through 2022 seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers before a two-year stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
‘I’ll start believing they care about player health when the Owner, GM, & head coach treat everyone on that roster the same from the franchise QB to the janitor,’ he wrote. ‘Until then don’t tell me they care cause they posted some hotline number when (expletive) like this happens.’
Fehoko finished his statement by encouraging players to reach out to him if they’re struggling.
‘I’m here for any of my brothers that just wanna talk and shoot the (expletive). I love y’all. I care about y’all. I’m here for y’all.’
Fehoko similarly spoke out after the death of Dallas Cowboys defensive lineman Marshawn Kneeland.
Kneeland, 24, died by suicide in Frisco, Texas last November.
‘Sometimes as a man especially in the football world we’re afraid of being judged or looked at weak,’ Fehoko wrote in response on X. ‘Make it mandatory to have a sit down with guys cause most of em won’t take the initiative.’
Moore’s cause of death remains under investigation at time of publishing.
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