Kyle Long reveals how NFL pressure, injuries and depression took a heavy toll and why therapy became a turning point | NFL News
Former Chicago Bears guard Kyle Long is speaking openly about anxiety and depression during his NFL career, including a difficult day at training camp when he felt unable to leave the team bus. In an interview with PEOPLE, he said therapy, honest conversations and support from people close to him helped him understand what was happening. Long is now sharing his experience through Johnson & Johnson’s Generation Fine campaign.
Kyle Long opens up about depression during his NFL career
Long said his mental health struggles may have started when he was young. He had trouble explaining how he felt and believed it was simply part of growing up. After entering the NFL, playing pressure, injuries and losing games brought stronger fear, stress and anxiety.“That’s when it became tangible stress, fear and anxiety,” Long told PEOPLE. “And then you start losing games and you start to really sink into that depression. It becomes something that, in the moment, feels like you’re the only person on the planet who’s dealing with it.”Long spoke with his father, Hall of Famer Howie Long, and brother Chris Long. Still, Long felt he had to handle his problems and keep going.That became harder during the 2015-16 preseason. He was dealing with an injury and the pressure of being one of the older players. He said players were expected to stay composed even when struggling.“One day at training camp, we were on our way back from practice and I just could not get off of the bus to go back to the hotel,” Long recalled. “It just felt like I had a truck on top of me and I couldn’t move.”
Kyle Long says therapy changed how he manages anxiety and depression
That day changed his view of his mental health. He was encouraged to look around the locker room and think about what his teammates might also be facing away from football. He realized he was not alone and needed to take his mental health seriously.Long says therapy and openness have helped him manage anxiety and depression over time. He also learned to seek medical help instead of simply pushing through his feelings.“I am in a constant ‘working on it’ phase,” he told PEOPLE. “You lift weights, you run sprints, you eat healthy, you get eight hours of sleep, you go see a physical therapist. For me, that missing thing was speaking with a medical professional and finding out why I’m feeling the way that I’m feeling, and then knowing that ‘fine’ is not the finish line.”Long is now a studio analyst on CBS Sports’ The NFL Today, joining the show in 2026. He is also working with Johnson & Johnson’s Generation Fine campaign, which encourages people to look beyond simply saying they are “fine.”Johnson & Johnson said in May that Long had battled depression at different stages of his life, including during his NFL career. The company said the campaign encourages conversations with healthcare providers. Long’s experience shows why he believes talking about what is happening can be an important part of getting support.
