Hall of Fame running back Thurman Thomas is the latest former NFL player to open up about the health issues he suffers from as a result of head injuries.
Thomas spoke at a concussion summit in Canada on Friday, and the Buffalo Bills legend revealed that he struggles with mood swings that have gotten worse over the years.
“Still to this day, I can’t control my mood swings,” he said at the District School Board of Niagara’s international summit on concussions, per Ray Spiteri of the Niagara Falls Review. “On so many days, I have to apologize to my family for them. I thank God that I have a family that understands the things that I’ve been through over my 13-year career, and even after my 14 or 15 years that I’ve been retired. They all understand that with my mood swings, sometimes I just can’t help it.”
Thomas said that was the first time he had openly discussed his symptoms, noting that he finally understands talking about the topic doesn’t mean he loves football any less.
“All it means is that I’m not an ignorant fool, and that I don’t ignore factual evidence that this is happening to not only football players, but [other athletes],” he said.
Perhaps even more disturbing than the mood swings, Thomas says he often carries notes around with him to help him keep his focus. He told a story about a time he got lost on a familiar road.
“I didn’t know where I was, and I didn’t know what I was doing,” Thomas explained. “I had to make the most difficult call I’ve ever made. I had to pull over on the highway, call my wife and explain to her the events that just happened. She said, ‘You need to come back home.’ I knew that there was a problem.”
Unfortunately, there are plenty more former NFL players who have similar issues to the ones Thomas experiences. One Super Bowl champion says he suffers from frightening memory loss. Another former player recently revealed he has trouble walking down stairs.
Concussion research should help, but it won’t fix the problem. Football is, and always will be, a dangerous game.
