Tyler Lockett, a 10-year veteran of the National Football League (NFL), has established himself as a leading voice for the Seattle Seahawks both on and off the field. His career is not just marked by athletic achievement but also by his mental health advocacy, sharing his struggles with the world to help continue to break the stigma in sports culture.
In 2022, Locket revealed on X that he struggled with depression, anxiety, and trauma for two years during his NFL career, nearly reaching a breaking point where he considered quitting the sport altogether.
Lockett emphasizes the importance of taking the time to address mental health, comparing his initial approach to treating it like a physical injury. “I tried to hurry up and fix it like if I got hurt and practiced, get treatment for a day, and I’m good. But with mental health, you have to be real with yourself,” he explained. This realization marked a turning point in his life, leading him to advocate for a more compassionate understanding of mental health struggles.
Despite that challenging period, Lockett found his footing by seeking mental health support, which led to some of the best seasons of his career. His message, “Just keep going. You never know what’s waiting on the other side!”. Lockett utilizes his faith and his passion for poetry as outlets for managing stress and processing his emotions. In 2019, he published a poetry book titled Reflection, showcasing his creativity while tackling the complexities of mental health.
Beyond his football career, Lockett is also a licensed real estate agent, and has found his interests outside of football that help alleviate the stress that comes along with being an athlete at such a high level.
“It’s just hard because everybody feels like they have to get to this place now — like, ‘I have to be married in my 20s, I have to have millions of dollars, I have to be successful,’” he said. “ “We live in a world where everything has to be gratifying right now. There is no room for error. We can’t make mistakes in this generation. We have to be exactly what everybody else thinks we should be.”
He acknowledges the relentless pursuit of unrealistic goals, highlighting the need to step back and reassess who we are truly competing against: ourselves or societal expectations. Reflecting on his journey, Lockett shared, “You know, often I get so lost in my thoughts just thinking about losses. Then I remember where I come from. I already won!”
As Lockett continues his journey through the 2024-25 season, he brings with him a refreshed perspective and mentality that makes him a standout player. No matter the outcome of the games, or the numbers on the stat sheet, Lockett is a winner, and is inspiring generations of athletes to be winners off the field as well.
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