What is mental illness?

According to Psychiatry.org, "Mental illnesses are health conditions involving changes in thinking, emotion or behavior (or a combination of these). Mental illnesses are associated with distress and/or problems functioning in social, work or family activities."

In short, mental illness is something anyone can suffer from.

Last Saturday at the NFL Hall of Fame ceremony, newly inducted legendary Philadelphia Eagles free safety, Brian Dawkins, publicized the emotional demons he struggled against while playing in the NFL. Dawkins expressed that he constantly brainstormed, plotting ways to kill himself where his wife would still be able to collect his pension from the NFL. He wanted to devise a plan to make his suicide look accidental. This is a lot of planning and thought to commit to something so horrible, for someone who was so energetic, influential and powerful on the field.

How does an emotional team leader struggle with his own life?

Dawkins put the game, the fans and his team first. He prioritized all of that over his own life and his own mental health. He went out on that field each and every Sunday and put all of his emotions out there. This is how he dealt with his depression on Sunday, but when the game was over, his struggle continued.

How is it that fans, coaches or his fellow players/teammates did not notice his pain?

Dawkins, along with many other individuals who suffer from mental illness are afraid to speak up about it and reach out for assistance. As a man, especially playing a "manly" contact sport, I can only imagine the pressure he felt to suppress these feelings from the public. Even if someone in his line of work did notice something was going on, they may not have said anything to him about it, due to the leadership he demonstrated and the respect he commanded on and off the field.

How does this impact his legacy?

Dawkins will forever be remembered by fans of the NFL as one of the hardest hitters, since the dawn of the millennium. Dawkins is a legend in Philly. Crawling out of the tunnel and hyping the fans and his teammates are something everyone will remember. I am not a Philly sports fan, but this man was an animal and even those who hated the Eagles loved Dawkins. He was the Eagles physical and emotional leader.

I can proudly admit I have always been a fan of Brian Dawkins, and now knowing more about the man behind the dark visor, I am an even bigger fan. It takes a lot for a man to sit his pride to the side, put his ego away and break down the true pains of life. Dawkins put it all out there for the fans.

Not to make himself feel better, but to educate and help those struggling with the same things in life. Brian Dawkins' story is living proof that money & status do not bring happiness. Brian Dawkins' story is living proof that despite how happy someone may seem on the outside, they may be living a nightmare inside their mind. As of last Saturday, Brian Dawkins is an NFL Hall of Famer. Brian Dawkins is a legend on and off the field and his legacy will live on in Canton, Ohio, forever.