Eric Inspires Aggies at USU with Message of Mental Fitness and Resilience

Eric E. Hipple addresses graduates during Utah State University's commencement ceremony at the Dee Glen Smith Spectrum in Logan on Thursday, May 2, 2019. (Photo: Kristin Murphy, KSL)

Returning to Utah State University (USU) to speak to graduates, former NFL quarterback Eric Hipple shared a deeply personal message about resilience, mental health, and self-identity. Reflecting on his time as USU’s starting quarterback and later as a Detroit Lions MVP, Hipple spoke about the silent battles he faced with depression—struggles that shadowed his career and personal life.

He urged graduates to recognize stress and anxiety as barriers to problem-solving and emphasized the importance of "mental fitness," just as one would train physically. Hipple’s journey took a tragic turn when his 15-year-old son, Jeffrey, died by suicide in 2000, a loss that sent him into years of self-destruction. It wasn’t until he sought help at the University of Michigan Depression Center that he learned to name and address his own struggles with depression.

Hipple’s story, woven with triumphs and hardships, serves as a powerful testament to the importance of seeking help, breaking the stigma surrounding mental illness, and embracing the journey toward self-discovery. His speech left USU graduates with a call to action: invest in mental well-being, support one another, and never hesitate to ask for help.

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