When NFL veteran Chris Hubbard suits up on Sundays, fans see a lineman who’s been holding down the trenches for more than a decade. What they don’t see is the personal fight he’s had away from the game—a battle he now openly shares to break down stigma around mental health.
Hubbard’s path has never been simple. After a standout run at UAB, he entered the league undrafted in 2013 and earned his stripes with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
By 2018, he had signed with the Cleveland Browns, where his versatility—shifting across multiple positions on the offensive line—made him a valuable presence. Through it all, he’s navigated the demands of long seasons, injuries, and the relentless expectation to perform.
This year on World Suicide Prevention Day, Hubbard used his platform to deliver a message that reached beyond football.
Speaking with Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, he called for NFL teams to treat player well-being with the same seriousness as game prep.
“I believe as professionals we should make a point to have sit-down meetings on how each individual player feels,” Hubbard said. “Make it a mandatory, one-on-one direct meeting with players throughout the week.”
For him, that advocacy comes from experience. Hubbard admitted that when he first sought help, he feared being labeled weak.
“I thought that getting help in the beginning for me would make people look at me differently,” he explained. “My advice to any athlete… please seek help. It was and is the best thing that I could have ever done for myself.”
His own coping tools are rooted in faith and routine. Mornings start with prayer, breathing techniques, and affirmations to set his focus.
A workout—whether he feels like it or not—gives him the release he needs to carry the weight of the game and life. “Building that confidence in myself makes me walk throughout my day with belief and clarity,” he said.
Hubbard also pointed to the importance of connection. The locker room, he noted, is more than just strategy and scouting—it’s a space where teammates can check in on each other. “When you are able to be vulnerable with your teammates, I believe that it makes the team stronger.”
If you or someone you know is in crisis, call or text 988 in the U.S. to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline.