Care and the Courage to Find a Way

Today’s story contains a mention of mental health challenges, including suicidal thoughts. If this topic is sensitive for you, please read with care — or feel free to skip today’s edition. Thank you for your presence and support of The Daily Coach.

Super Bowl champion and Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown isn’t just known for catching touchdowns on the field—he’s also emerged as one of the most courageous and authentic voices in professional sports when it comes to mental health.

In a culture of high performance—where being tough is praised, silence is often the default, and strength is mistakenly equated with emotional suppression—Brown’s honesty has broken through the noise.

Back in 2021, while still playing for the Tennessee Titans, Brown shared a deeply personal story. Despite producing on the field, he was struggling off it—fighting through a period of severe depression. In a vulnerable moment, he revealed that he had contemplated taking his own life the year prior.

Rather than bury the experience, he chose to go public—not for sympathy, but to serve others. Brown urged people to check in on their loved ones, especially the “strong friends” who rarely show signs of struggle.

He credited therapy for helping him out of the darkness. And he’s been consistent in reminding others since: “It’s okay to talk to someone. It’s okay not to be okay. It’s okay to get help.”

That message doesn’t just apply to athletes. It’s a call to action for us as leaders across arenas—and, more importantly, as human beings.

When life becomes that dark, even the smallest light is sacred. Since opening up about his mental health journey, Brown has used his platform to shift the narrative and the stigma—to show that strength isn't found in silence, but in seeking help, owning one’s story, and using it to uplift others.

Recently, in a video from Uninterrupted—the media platform founded by LeBron James—Brown spoke again, this time about fatherhood, adversity, and the life lessons football has taught him. His words, raw and real, cut straight to the heart of leadership, life, and personal transformation:

“Football is special because it teaches you life lessons. Everything ain’t gonna go your way. But what is it preparing you for? You lose your job. Your family is in shambles. It all ties together… You don’t give up on your brother. So I know you’re not gonna give up on your family.”

Brown went on: “You have to learn how to face adversity. And push forward. That’s all life is—figuring it out. Finding a way. It doesn’t matter how. Just find a way.”

@uninterrupted

Wise words from our guy A.J. 💯 #ajbrown #eagles #philly #football #lifelessons #motivation

For those of us leading ourselves and others—in boardrooms, locker rooms, classrooms, and in the spaces we navigate—the question becomes: When life gets hard, what is our first response—and what are we being prepared for?

Do we retreat? Or do we respond? Do we allow ourselves the grace and unique opportunity to sit in the sadness and the discomfort? Do we model resilience even in the messy middle for those watching us?

As leaders, executives, coaches, and high performers, we’re all facing our own demands—tight deadlines, personal battles, team turbulence, societal and organizational uncertainty, unexpected health diagnoses, internal pressure.

More than ever, we are being called to find a way—for ourselves, for our teams, for those we love, and for those who look to us for courage when life doesn’t go according to script or game plan.

Brown’s story reminds us that leadership is never just about results—it’s about responsibility. We aren’t only tasked with hitting KPIs or winning games. We’re responsible for designing and cultivating environments where people feel seen, heard, supported, and comfortable enough to ask for help.

We’re called to lead people—not just manage them. Human behavior is not one-size-fits-all. Those we lead and care for, like us, are fighting battles others may never see. Because life happens to everyone—no matter our privilege, the status of our role, or the things we possess.

Darkness, heartbreak, loss, and grief will come knocking at our front doorstep. It’s not something we can avoid or opt out of. It’s all part of this marathon called life—and part of what makes it so beautiful on the other side.

So the next time adversity hits—and it will hit—remember A.J. Brown’s message: “Find a way.”

Find a way through the challenge. Find a way to ask for help. Find a way to show up—for yourself and for those looking to you for guidance. Because at the heart of leadership isn’t just vision, performance, or strategy. At the heart of leadership is care.

And care begins with the courage to sit with discomfort, to check in with others, and to remind ourselves—and our people—that it’s okay not to be okay, but there is always a way.

No matter how dark the night before, the sun will rise in the morning. We can always figure it out. And when we do it together, we are better, stronger, and more resilient for it.

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If you or someone you know is struggling or in emotional distress, please know you're not alone. Help is available 24/7 through the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline — just dial 988 to speak with a trained counselor at any time.

You can also text HELLO to 741741 to connect with the Crisis Text Line for free, confidential support. For additional resources, visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources.

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