Former NFL Quarterback B.J. Daniels Wants Young Athletes to Know ‘It’s OK to Not Be OK’

Former NFL quarterback B.J. Daniels is encouraging young athletes to speak honestly about their mental health.

Daniels recently met with student-athletes from six Pinellas County high school football programs at the second annual Mind Shift Youth Behavioral Health Summit in Florida. The Oct. 9 event created a space for young men to discuss pressure, emotional wellness, and life beyond the playing.

“I face so many different challenges,” Daniels said during the summit, according to WFLA. “Some were seen, some were unseen, and some I was scared to talk about.”

The former University of South Florida standout wants younger athletes to understand that opening up does not diminish their strength or ability.

“I want these young men to know that it’s okay to not be okay and find ways to communicate and know that there’s a locker room, your community that’s around you that will always support you,” he continued.

Daniels reinforced that message on Instagram following the event. He acknowledged that athletes are often conditioned to appear tough, even when they are struggling privately.

“Asking for help doesn’t make you less of an athlete,” he wrote. “It gives you the confidence to face difficult things, take care of yourself, and be there for the people counting on you.”

The summit was organized in collaboration with Evara Health, Pinellas County Schools and the Juvenile Welfare Board. Daniels currently serves as Evara Health’s manager of strategic growth and partnerships.

Health professionals and former athletes helped students learn how to manage pressure, develop resilience, and recognize that their identities extend beyond their athletic accomplishments.

For Daniels, who earned a Super Bowl championship during his professional football career, the message is personal and clearer for young men. He hopes athletes will treat emotional support like any other resource designed to help them perform and live well.

Read the story as originally published at https://www.mensjournal.com/sports/former-nfl-quarterback-b-j-daniels-wants-young-athletes-to-know-its-ok-to-not-be-ok