Former Buccaneers linemen prioritize mental health with ‘proactive’ post-NFL plan

The transition into careers after football for many NFL players can be tough, particularly when it’s not a choice. Ryan Jensen knew he’d enter the construction industry after retiring from the NFL, but the former Pro Bowl center and Super Bowl champion with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers — who announced his retirement on Feb. 2 — still “felt weird” over the summer realizing he was not preparing for training camp. “Living in a balance of trying to continue to grow a company, while realizing again the importance of our own mental health and our own personal wellness is as critical as ever.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Gilk | Design | Construction | Development GILK started in Tampa, Fla. It’s expanded to Colorado, where Jensen resides. “From a mental health standpoint, my family is out here in Colorado, and the ability just to go hide out in the woods and just breathe, that’s been very, very helpful for me,” he said. “Over the past three years, we’ve worked really hard to get feedback from players on what they want.” Perlman said in addition to programs looking into various careers, she wants players to know about all their medical benefits — which include mental health.