For many former players, the transition from the daily grind of an NFL season to that first year of retirement can often be tricky. For former Washington Redskins tight end Niles Paul, it’s been a tough road to navigate.
A profile on the 30-year-old who spent six years with the Redskins was recently released by the Omaha World-Herald, and it detailed the demons that Paul has encountered since hanging up his cleats a year ago. After spending seven years living through the ups and downs of an NFL season, the veteran TE is now left with a lot of time on his hands, and he’s struggling to cope.
The profile details Paul’s Thanksgiving this past year, where he had plans to spend the holiday with his family for the first time in years. However, just hours before his flight to Omaha, he decided to cancel his plans and stay home in Florida.
“What am I supposed to tell them?” Paul asked. “Oh, I’m battling depression. I’m seeing a therapist. I’m supposed to tell them that? I’m ashamed to tell them that. I’m ashamed where I’m at. I gotta shake this.”
It’s been a tough road for Paul since he threw in the towel. After building a career based on hard work and dedication, he can’t seem to get back into the groove of a “normal life” off of the field.
“People think, oh, you got it made. You’ve made millions of dollars. You can have any girl you want. You living the life. How do you tell them it ain’t really the life? I’m fighting some demons.”
It’s a story that we’ve often heard; the first year without football is always the hardest for vets that have dedicated the bulk of their lives to the game. For Paul, it’s another challenge in his path. He was once a fan-favorite for the Redskins, and although he no longer sports the Burgundy & Gold on Sunday’s there is a fanbase in Washington who wants nothing but the best for him.
[vertical-gallery id=27233]