Monday, March 10, 2014

Rashard Mendenhall is My Hero


Rashard Mendenhall is My Hero
I stumbled across an interesting article on ESPN today: Rashard Mendenhall, former running back for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Arizona Cardinals, is retiring. The interesting bit is that Mendenhall is only twenty six years old: right in the prime of the typical NFL player's career. The main reaction from sports outlets seems to ask, "Why?" While Mendenhall is not a premier running back, it's likely some team would have wanted the former first round pick to join their stable of backs. Considering the financial consequences of the decision, it's hard to imagine why he would leave this lucrative career. Even role players and bench-warmers make extremely good money: NFL players with six years of experience earn at least the minimum salary of $715,000, not including any signing bonuses. It's possible Mendenhall could have made a good deal more than that: last season he earned $2.5M with the Cardinals.

Like most Steeler fans, I always had conflicted feelings about Mendenhall. When he was drafted by the Steelers in 2008, he had the look and pedigree of a future star. In college, Mendenhall played well in the Big 10, a notoriously tough conference for running backs. And he passed the eye test: dude was built like the proverbial brick outhouse. But his production never matched the fans' expectations. He was adequate, but never particularly impressive. My lasting memory of Mendenhall was his fumble in Super Bowl XLV against the Packers. It came at the worst possible time: right as the Steelers were starting to wear down the defense with their running game, within 4 points, and in the fourth quarter. The game turned, the Steelers lost, and I've never really forgiven him. When he left for Arizona, I was happy to see him go.

Despite my conflicted feelings, I was still a bit shocked to hear he was retiring after only six years. But then I realized that Mendenhall is pulling off the extreme early retirement of NFL players. He is leaving on his own volition, while he's still healthy, and on his own terms. Hardly anyone does this. The typical career path is to play until your body does not allow you to play anymore and the contract offers stop coming in: when the league's teams collectively tell you it's time to hang up your cleats.

Presumably, Mendenhall has saved a good bit of the $15.1 million he's earned over his six year career. If he has enough saved and wants to do something else with his life, why shouldn't he leave? The part I like best about Mendenhall's decision, which he explains in a piece he's written for the Huffington Post, are the similarities between the constraints of a professional football career and a typical corporate career. Here are some direct quotes from his article:
"Imagine having a job where you're always on duty, and can never fully relax or you just may drown. Having to fight through waves and currents of praise and criticism...."
"The box deemed for professional athletes is a very small box. My wings spread a lot further than the acceptable athletic stereotypes and conformity was never a strong point of mine. My focus has always been on becoming a better me, not a second-rate somebody else."
"I think about the rest of my life and I want to live it with much quality. And physically, I am grateful that I can walk away feeling as good as I did when I stepped into it."
"As for the question of what will I do now, with an entire life in front of me? I say to that, I will LIVE! I plan to live in a way that I never have before, and that is freely, able to fully be me, without the expectation of representing any league, club, shield or city. I do have a plan going forward, but I will admit that I do not know how things will totally shape out. That is the beauty of it!"
First, I am struck by what a talented writer Mendenhall is. It is bad enough that he was a better football player at the age of ten than I ever was. Now, at twenty six, he is a better writer than I can probably ever hope to be. Some guys have all the luck.

But I love how similar Mendenhall's decision to leave his career track is to that of so many early retirement bloggers. The pressures that plague the typical American corporate worker are also present in the NFL. The job that you never really clock out from; whether you're at home or on vacation, you're only an email or a call away from being back on the job. Always feeling the pressure to get praise and to avoid criticism from leadership and your peers. Being defined by your career: living within the box of, "What do you do for a living?" And that nagging feeling that there is a lot more to life than the one you're currently living.

Despite the allure of a six or seven figure salary, and a career that so many American men dream of having for themselves, he walked away. And he did so with no road map: only with a desire to live an authentic life, one in which he's true to himself. I may not have loved him as a player, but I love him now. Rashard Mendenhall is my new hero.


*Photo is from Steve Snodgrass at Flickr Creative Commons.

52 comments:

  1. Great post! I got chills reading "I say to that, I will LIVE!"

    He is a brilliant writer and I wish him all the best in the future. I'm sure he'll have a wonderful life.

    Wouldn't he be a fun interview for a PF/early retirement blog or even better to get him to guest post! Probably impossible, but who knows...

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    1. I'll give it a shot, Brad. Though I probably did not help myself with my too-candid comments about his playing career in Pittsburgh. :)

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    2. I love that idea! Hope you go for it!

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    3. Thanks, femmefrugality. I've sent him a tweet, so hopefully he responds!

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  2. I just read about Mendenhall's retirement this morning. At first I assumed it was an injury or something else was wrong (Ricky Williams??). I mean who retires early from the NFL. But I read his thoughtful article on the Huffington post, and wow, what a smart guy. I guess football players have a stereotype that they are....Richie Incognito... I wish him success on whatever he decides to do. If only other NFL players would save as he did so that they have options.

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    1. Good point with Ricky Williams, Andrew. Mendenhall would be a much better representative for leaving the game early than Ricky, who came off as intelligent but a bit more of a headcase (and kind of a financial trainwreck). I'd love it if Mendenhall came back to talk to current players about how he managed his money and left the game while his body and mind were still intact.

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  3. Wow! That's enormously cool! I remember when Reggie Rivers (a backup running back for the Broncos) retired. He said something like "Football is great, but it tends to eclipse everything else in life." which I thought was just wonderful.

    I think our society has this tendency to pigeonhole people based on their form of employment. People seldom think "Oh, this guy is a human being who happens to earn money offering advice on buying and selling stocks." We think "Oh, he's a stockbroker." I think it's part of why some folks have a really hard time envisioning an early retirement - they define their identity and value as human beings through their jobs. On some level it just strikes me as really sad.

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    1. I agree, EcoCatLady. The role that career has in our identity is a bit out of control (especially for men, I'd argue). That's the main thing that I struggle with when planning early retirement: how others will see me, and how I will see myself, when I'm just an 'at-home' dad. If I'm being honest with myself, I'm terrified of the prospect of Mrs. Done by Forty choosing to stay employed while I'm retired in the next seven years or so. I think that's why I admire what Mendenhall did.

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  4. This is a fantastic point of view on the situation. Well said, Mr. DBF. He did do pretty well for my fantasy team this past season to boot! Respect.

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    1. Ha! Yes, he was a bit of a touchdown machine last year. Now that he's going to write, maybe he'll throw us some fantasy tips. :)

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  5. DB40,

    Good for him! It's obviously unusual to see people give up millions of dollars and choose a healthy and balanced life instead, so kudos!

    Seems to me like this is definitely something he's been thinking about for a while now. Definitely wasn't a plan hatched yesterday. And even though it's probably something he's thought about for a while, good for him for seeing it through. You read about a lot of people saving and investing, but then you'll see fear creep in when it comes time to execute.

    Inspiring stuff. Thanks for sharing!

    Best wishes.

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    1. I am a bit concerned that I'll succumb to fear when the spreadsheets tell me I'm financially independent, Jason, and just keep working a while to pad the numbers. It's one thing to plan for early retirement; it's an entirely different skill set to put that plan into action.

      I wonder if some early retirees have a tried and true game plan for pulling the trigger.

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  6. I read that article as well. Kudos to him for following his dream. I read many people criticizing him for this decision, saying he was skipping out on all that money. I find it very interesting that as a society we whine and complain about how much these athletes make. Then when one of them retires early to pursue other interests we complain they aren't competing and earning more money. Talk about your double standard.

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    1. Oh, that's the angle I wish I'd used, Brian: the double standard we judge athletes on regarding their compensation. You really can't win sometimes, especially with fans' access to the internet. Mendenhall mentioned that quite a bit in his article.

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  7. I can't imagine what a beating your body has taken even by the time you've gotten to the NFL! So I can totally understand that. If you manage your money right, early retirement is possible. So many athletes piss away their money!

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    1. Yeah, it's kind of depressing to hear all these stories of former athletes ending up bankrupt after a few years. If ever there was proof that you can't earn your way out of bad financial habits, right?

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  8. Amazing. He's the same age as me, and he's got a lot of fire and passion for his life. Pretty impressive!

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    1. Oh, you just made me feel old! :) I'm totally impressed by the perspective he has in his mid-twenties, too. I'll be interested to see where he goes next.

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  9. I read that article, too, and came away very impressed. I'm sure that the recent news coverage of the long-term brain damage pro football players have weighed into his decision to get out before it's too late. It sounds like he's being intentional with his life and career decisions and I hope he did put away a great portion of his earnings so he's able to travel and write and do whatever he likes for a while!

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    1. Good point about the brain damage, Emily. I remember hearing that when they autopsied Chris Henry, he had the brain of a senior citizen, and he was something like 24 when he died. Football is an incredibly dangerous sport, so I don't begrudge these men the salaries they earn. Good for Mendenhall to get in and get out before he suffered that kind of harm.

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  10. Wow, good for him. He can still say that he lasted twice as long as the average NFL player (3 years). It just dawned on me how crazy it is that he's 26 and his first career is 'over.' I think another thing about athletes who rise to that level is that it becomes 24/7. They constantly have to be training, working out, running drills, working with teammates, and performing. Day after day after day. It probably starts at a very young age, too, so it probably feels really good to finally not have that 24/7/365 pressure.

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    1. It is kind of crazy how there's no off-season anymore, David. I'm not old enough to remember how it was in the old days, when players held down jobs in the off-season, but I don't remember there always being these year-round training regiments, constant interviews and up-to-the-second media feedback, social media, etc. etc. It would wear thin pretty quick.

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  11. He has intelligence and his health, which is invaluable. A lot of those players have brain damage and concussions. Good for him, he has his whole life. Only 36,500 days left of work for me!

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    1. Ha! I hope you make it that extra hundred years, Charles.

      Good point about having one's health and mind -- much more valuable than some wealth.

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  12. This is great! To walk away when you're still able to keep on earning the big bucks is a big decision, but the right one. Walking away with your health is far more important, than the money, but that's never an easy decision to make in the NFL.

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    1. I think it was definitely the right decision for Mendenhall. He seemed to be in a bit of turmoil with the fans, especially those who were spouting constant criticism/racial slurs. And I especially liked how he said he's leaving the game as healthy as he was when he went in. Few players can say that.

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  13. Wow, what a solid guy: he cares not about the fame, fortune and attention that come with being an NFL player, but instead, values the life that was given him and intends to make the best of it. Very, very rare qualities these days. The man is indeed a true hero, and you, my friend, are indeed a gifted and inspiring writer. :-)

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    1. Aw, thanks, Laurie! That's very nice to hear. :)

      I wish I had the perspective that Mendenhall does. I am planning on working for maybe another "six year career" as he did, but we'll see if I have the guts to walk away...

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  14. I had heard that we was retiring from the league, but I didn't realize he had written an article about his decision - thanks for sharing that, I really enjoyed reading it! I think he's making a good decision and I have a ton of respect for him because he was able to stand up and be true to himself, not anyone else's expectations. It can be really hard to break from what other people think is right and forge ahead on your own path, but I can't imagine anything more rewarding than doing just that. Good for Mendenhall - I'm hoping for all the best for him when he's out living life :)

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    1. I'm glad you read the article, Kali! I loved it, too. I have such admiration for his decision, because it's unexpected and I think people are expecting him to fail. When someone leaves prematurely, I think the people who stick around typically hope the splitter to fail.

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  15. That's a great story. I'm glad to hear that one aspect of his life will not define him. It's also refreshing to hear that he saved and was prepared for retirement/this moment.

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    1. Agreed, Michael. I wish he'd shared a little about his financial situation, but with that much money earned I'm sure he's wanting to keep mum on it.

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  16. I never really gave football or the players much thought - but this guy seems like a bright mind. How admirable, actually, that he can recognize when enough is enough, and take the step in another direction from what he knows and is known for. I hope that it gives people (not just football fans) an inkling that following the “standard path of life” isn't the only option out there, and anyone can make the choice. Good for him!

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    1. A very bright mind, definitely. I'm trying hard to follow his lead and ask myself whether I'm following my own arrow, as Kacey Musgraves would say.

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  17. Total fan of his decision. I'm sure he'll catch on quickly writing for some pro football outlet, possibly doing analyst work, or really, with those kinds of earnings, whatever the hell he wants, right? And good for him for being able to walk away with his body in tact. More power to him.

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    1. I think Mendenhall might be a little too bright for most tv analyst positions, but I could see him writing for an online rag. I'll be keeping an eye out for more of his writing.

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  18. I have so much respect for what he did. The sports radio show I was listening to was so consumed by all of the money he was leaving on the table. If he was responsible in saving his money, and he can leave on his terms and in good relatively good health, then I say good for him.

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    1. I haven't had a chance to hear any of the reaction on sports radio, but I could've guessed that they'd focus on the money he was walking away from. So much better to focus on the money he was able to mange well though.

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  19. That's my new hero as well. I also just want to LIVE! You get to the point where money isn't everything anymore... If my company offered me more $$$ to work more hours, I would decline.

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    1. I loved that line. Isn't that the answer we should all have to the question of what to do with the rest of our lives?

      I'm not yet at the point that I'd turn down extra money for more work, but soon!

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  20. Football is a tough, tough sport.. And few professional football players escape the sport without permanent damage. Kudos to Mendenhall for doing it the smart way. He's got his whole life ahead of him.

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    1. The value of his health really can't be overstated. What good is life without health?

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  21. Another impressive individual was Pat Tillman. He left the NFL to join the army, and was subsequently killed in Afghanistan.

    It's one thing to leave the NFL and retire. Quite another to then get a dangerous job, that doesn't pay much. And then getting killed. A real hero.

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    1. Tillman is a great example of living a life unconventionally. Here in AZ, he is a legend. His is a fantastic story.

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  22. I'd be more than happy to manage his money for him!

    But seriously, what an awesome guy. Well written, intelligent, and bold. He should definitely start a PF blog. It would explode!

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    1. Great idea, Jacob. I wonder if that is something he would be interested in.

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  23. I think if I had $15 mill I would retire too. Some jobs really are a lifestyle. When I'm doing a show (even when I'm auditioning), I have to take very good care of my body, and I never have more than one drink so as not to jeopardize my vocal health.

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    1. I can see some of the similarities, Stefanie. In both cases, your career is really tied to your health and your ability to perform at an elite level.

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  24. What an absolute legend, and like you say a fantastic writer as well!

    I wonder what he has planned, it would be very interesting to find out.

    Thanks for highlighting this story as this would never have made it over to the papers in the UK. That's another great thing about the blogging world, finding out about things you would have never done so from the mainstream media.

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    1. Thanks, FIREstarter! I find his story to be inspirational. If he can walk away from his seven figure salary, what's keeping me from walking away from my job one day?

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  25. Happy he does't sound like the 70%+ that are bankrupt within a few years of retiring from the NFL! Doesn't hurt that he probably has a fantastic pension as well.

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    1. I hadn't heard much about the NFL pension. Is it a good system? I'm surprised how many ex-players end up broke if that system is available, but I suppose there's a pretty large gap between when players leave the job and when they can collect benefits.

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