The NFL is a hard life, but life after the NFL can be even harder. While some players have prospered after their playing days ended, others have fallen on hard times, often related to injuries.
One example is former Denver Broncos defensive tackle Louis Leonard. The former lineman’s wife, Lacy Leonard, detailed his post-playing struggles in an Instagram reel last month.
“My husband survived the NFL, but now he’s surviving everything it left behind,” she said, via Us Weekly. “People see the glory, the lights, the crowds, but they don’t see this — the aftermath, the pain, the stiffness, the tremors, the battle his body fights every single day.”
In the video, Lacy shows her husband navigating a hospital in a wheelchair.
“This is our reality,” she said. “Physical therapy at the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center, a warrior learning to move again, step-by-step and punch-by-punch.”
Leonhard spent time with six NFL teams from 2007-2010, ending his career in Denver. He totaled 33 tackles and one sack in 25 career games. Although he only played four seasons in the league, Leonhard left with lasting consqences.
“Don’t romanticize this life,” Lacy said. “The real work happens after the game is long over.”
Leonard is blessed to have a wife who is willing to be there every step of the way. The NFL is a beautiful yet violent game, and it has taken a toll on many players. May Leonard have the opportunity to recover as much as possible.
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This article originally appeared on Broncos Wire: NFL: Wife of ex-Broncos lineman reveals cost of playing in the NFL
