Two years ago, former Penn State and Baltimore Ravens guard John Urschel wrote an article for The Players Tribune entitled, “Why I Still Play Football,” a look at the conflicts he faces with the violence of the sport that he loves, and his desire to educate himself to the fullest in the field of mathematics.
“It’s not rude to ask,” Urschel said. “It’s not some taboo topic that offends. It is a simple truth. Playing a hitting position in the NFL can’t possibly help your long-term mental health. However, it’s also true that how bad such a pursuit is for you is something that, I believe, no one really knows for sure right now.