During his 12-year NFL career, Charles Haley was an out-of-control, destructive force: He bullied teammates, picked on coaches, abused opposing offensive tackles and buried quarterbacks.
In his Hall-of-Fame induction speech on Saturday night, however, the former 49ers and Cowboys pass-rusher said he was also this: scared and stubborn.
“I walked into the league a 22-year-old man with a 16-year-old inside of me screaming for help,” Haley said. “And I would not ask for it. I would not ask for that help.”
In Haley’s heartfelt speech, he addressed his mental illness.