Inspiring story of the day: “A year ago from today, I thought about taking my own life” - How A.J. Brown turned small-town Mississippi roots into NFL dominance and mental health advocacy

A.J. Brown has built an NFL career on strength, speed and the ability to make difficult catches look easy. But one of the most important parts of his story happened away from the field. During the 2020 season, when he was a rising star with the Tennessee Titans, Brown was dealing with depression and suicidal thoughts. In 2021, he first time publicly spoke about reaching that point and encouraged people to talk to someone when they are struggling. His journey from Starkville, Mississippi, to NFL stardom also includes family, fatherhood and a strong belief in helping others.What did A.J. Brown’s childhood in Starkville, Mississippi teach himLong before A.J. Brown became an NFL star, his life in Starkville, Mississippi, was shaped by his family and sports. Brown was born on June 30, 1997, and grew up playing both football and baseball. He attended Starkville High School, where he became one of the most highly regarded young athletes in the state.His father, Arthur Brown Sr., had a strong connection to baseball and helped create a baseball field for his children on the family’s large property. Brown’s mother is Josette Robertson. His parents placed importance on discipline and hard work while he was growing up.Brown also faced difficult moments during his teenage years. In a later conversation reported by ESPN, he spoke about his parents separating when he was around 11 or 12. He said he struggled with the change and acted out. He failed seventh grade and said he briefly became involved with the Gangster Disciples.Sports eventually became a major way for him to change direction. Brown played football, baseball and basketball, and his talent quickly made him stand out. At Ole Miss, he became one of the top wide receivers in college football before entering the NFL.The path was not as simple as a straight rise to fame. There were problems along the way, but Brown has also spoken about the people who helped him find a better direction.When did A.J. Brown reveal his struggle with depression and suicidal thoughtsBrown’s mental-health battle became public in November 2021, although he said the darkest period had come during the 2020 NFL season. At that time, he was playing for the Tennessee Titans and was already establishing himself as one of the league’s top young receivers.From the outside, his career appeared to be moving quickly in the right direction. Behind that success, however, Brown was struggling with depression and anxiety.In a video shared on social media, Brown spoke openly about how serious things had become.“A year ago from today, I thought about taking my own life. I had no more hope of better days, and everything was just going wrong for me. I didn’t think depression was real until it happened to me. But now I know it’s really real. I’m still here, I’m still going, I’m still smiling, and I’ve got a lot of things to be grateful for. Be there for someone because someone was there for me.”The message was important because Brown was not speaking as someone removed from the pressures of professional sport. He was a young NFL player in the middle of a successful season, yet he was privately dealing with thoughts that could have cost him his life.Brown also urged people to speak with someone instead of keeping their pain to themselves. The Tennessee Titans reported his message at the time and noted that he wanted others to take depression seriously.Reports also said fellow NFL player Elijah Moore checked on Brown during that period. Brown later described Moore as someone he considered like family.How did fatherhood change A.J. Brown’s view of lifeFamily became an important part of Brown’s life as his football career continued. His daughter Jersee was born in May 2020, around the same period as the mental-health struggles he later discussed publicly. Brown has previously spoken about how important his daughter was to him during that difficult period.Brown also has a son, Arthur Juan Brown Jr., who was born in September 2022. The children have remained a visible part of his life away from football.Brown’s family has changed further in recent years. He married Kelsey Riley in May 2026 after the couple became engaged in 2025. Riley is a former Texas Southern softball player, and the couple have two children together: Jersee and A.J. Jr.Fatherhood has also given Brown a reason to think beyond football. His career has included big contracts, major games and individual success, but his public comments about mental health show another side of his life. For him, being present for his children is part of what matters when the noise around his football career fades.Why does A.J. Brown’s mental-health message still matter todayBrown’s story stands out because his struggles happened while his NFL career was taking off. He was not someone who had disappeared from the public eye or stopped performing. He was an athlete many people saw as successful, yet he was dealing with serious emotional pain away from the field.That is the part of his story that continues to matter. His message was simple: talk to someone, listen to people around you and do not assume that depression is not real simply because someone looks successful.A.J. Brown has since continued to build his football career. He became a major part of the Eagles’ offense after his 2022 trade from Tennessee and helped Philadelphia win Super Bowl LIX in the 2024 season. In 2026, Philadelphia traded him to the New England Patriots.His football résumé is now filled with major achievements, but the most personal part of his story remains the decision to speak honestly about a period when he did not know how things would turn out.That openness is what gives his story meaning beyond football. Brown learned that being strong does not always mean handling everything alone. Sometimes, it means admitting that something is wrong and allowing another person to help.Get the latest Sports News and Live updates. Download the TOI app.