Tyler Lockett opens up about playing through mental health struggles

Seattle Seahawks star wide receiver Tyler Lockett candidly shared on Twitter about how he has dealt with mental health issues in the NFL, even during games. 

It’s no longer Mental Health Awareness Month, but creating conversation around mental health struggles is something that matters year-round.

It’s especially important for athletes, who serves as role models all while experiencing unique mental health struggles, to be transparent about what they’re going through whenever possible. Although professional athletes achieve some of the greatest emotional highs imaginable, there are also unparalleled lows in losses, which can create anxiety, depression, and self-esteem that is rooted in performance.

To combat the stigma around mental health issues and show the world what living with them looks like, Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett shared a powerful account about how he spent at least two of his seven NFL seasons struggling with depression and anxiety.

Lockett says that he “almost quit”, but that season turned out to be his “best year.”

“I played through trauma another year and had my best year,” he continued. “Moral of the story: Just keep going. You never know what’s waiting on the other side!”

Seahawks star Tyler Lockett opens up about mental health struggles during NFL season

Lockett continued to share on why he remains thankful that he persevered through difficult seasons.

“Looking back now, I’m so happy I kept going,” Lockett wrote. “I’m a strong-minded person, and when faced with mental health situations, I tried to hurry up and fix it like if I got hurt at practice, got treatment for a day, and I’m good. But with mental health, you have to be real with yourself.”

“It’s easy to operate in life when you live through your strengths,” Lockett continued. “But these last couple years, I had to live and rely on my weaknesses to get me through. I been more patient with myself than I’ve ever been. I had to learn that my mindset wasn’t the only way.”

In May, former Chicago Bears running back Tarik Cohen penned an emotional piece on how many NFL fans have no idea what NFL players are going through in their personal lives. Cohen spoke about how his entire time with the Bears, he worried over his two younger brothers and sought to protect his family as best he could. Facing unimaginable tragedy, Cohen was still looking for a path back into the league when he recently tore his Achilles tendon during a practice.

Atlanta Hawks superstar and mental health advocate Trae Young recently spoke with FanSided about how he, like Lockett, remains positive in challenging moments.

“I guess I really just try to focus on positive things in the games and moments,” Young said. “I don’t try to get too down. There’s this long season, so you’re gonna have losses, but you try to focus on the positive things, and I’ve had to learn that. It’s not something that was with me since day one, but I’ve had people that I’ve talked to that have helped me with this.”

Recently, some very positive news came Lockett’s way: Pro Football Focus named Lockett and DK Metcalf among the top 25 wide receivers in the NFL.