What happens when a lifetime of football collisions catches up with your brain? Former NFL linebacker Anthony Chickillo bravely pulls back the curtain on his harrowing mental health journey in this raw, unflinching conversation.

As one of just five players in history to come from a three-generation NFL family, Chickillo's football credentials are impeccable. From his early training at age eight under his father's guidance to his collegiate career at Miami and professional stint with the Pittsburgh Steelers, he lived the dream countless young athletes aspire to. But beneath the highlight reels and career achievements lurked a devastating consequence of America's favorite sport.

Beginning in 2019, Chickillo began experiencing alarming mental health symptoms that would eventually lead to multiple hospitalizations, dangerous encounters with law enforcement, and a desperate search for answers. His description of staying awake for thirty consecutive days, being Baker Acted six times, and having tasers pulled on him by police offers a rare, unfiltered glimpse into the frightening reality of brain injury in contact sports.

What makes this conversation truly remarkable is Chickillo's purpose moving forward. Rather than retreating from his experiences, he's channeling them into creating resources and support systems for other athletes suffering from similar conditions. His passionate advocacy stems from a deep understanding that many former players are suffering in silence with symptoms misdiagnosed as other mental health conditions.

Listen as Anthony shares insights about college football's NIL landscape, talks about his wife's growing tattoo business, and ultimately reveals why his painful journey has given him a mission more meaningful than any tackle or sack he ever made on the field. This episode isn't just about football—it's about survival, resilience, and finding purpose in pain.