Eric Opens Up on WOOD TV8
Eric recently sat down with WOOD TV8 to share a deeply personal look into his journey with mental health—one that began long before he fully understood what he was facing. Like many men, Eric grew up with the idea that emotions should be managed silently. But after retiring from professional football and suffering the unimaginable loss of his 15-year-old son to suicide, that silence became unbearable.
In the interview, Eric speaks candidly about his descent into numbness, substance use, and grief—and how seeking treatment at the University of Michigan Depression Center helped him make sense of the pain. It was there he began to truly understand depression and the need to bring that knowledge to others, especially in hard-to-reach communities like former athletes and military veterans.
“Real men do cry,” Eric emphasizes. “Mental fitness means asking hard questions, checking in with yourself, and being willing to grow.”
He also shares practical advice for starting conversations with men who may be struggling, reinforcing the idea that mental health is not a weakness—it’s part of being human.
This feature highlights Eric’s ongoing mission: to dismantle the stigma around men’s mental health and equip people with the tools to navigate it with strength and compassion.
Read the full article at www.woodtv.com ›
