Former punter Steve Weatherford revealed that a “deep wave of depression” came over him after the Giants defeated the Patriots in Super Bowl XLVI in 2012.
Weatherford, 41, posted about the bout with depression — calling it “one of the most depressing nights of my life” — and overcoming it through faith in a post on Facebook earlier this week.
“The game was in Indianapolis just 47 miles from my hometown…My family, my parents, and my friends were all coming and whoever couldn’t would be watching on TV and I actually had the greatest game of my life,” Weatherford wrote.
Giants defeated the New England Patriots 21-17 to win Super Bowl
XLVI at Lucas Oil Stadium on February 5, 2012 in Indianapolis, Indiana. Getty Images
“I couldn’t have performed better. And we won 21-17. But after all the celebrations and parties were over, something came over me. I was sitting in my hotel room and a deep wave of depression came over me.”
Weatherford played high school football in Terre Haute, Ind.
His NFL career spanned from 2006-15, and he was the Giants’ punter for four seasons from 2011-14.
“All the early mornings, all the years of hard work, all the sacrifice… and I didn’t feel different,” Weatherford continued in his Facebook post.
“I tried to fill the void inside of me with winning and success but all it did was leave me feeling empty. That’s when I decided that I couldn’t stay in the NFL much longer and needed to find a deeper sense of purpose.
“So let me be the first to warn you. No amount of success or achievement can fill the God sized hole in you. It wasn’t until I got my life in order with God at the top that I was able to find a much deeper sense of purpose that energizes me every day. So now I’m on a mission to help other men do the same.”
Weatherford said that helping others find their faith has brought him more fulfillment than the glory of competing in the NFL.
“I could’ve stayed in the NFL, I could’ve continued growing my supplement business, or been on TV but there is nothing that lights me up more than helping men live a life on purpose,” he wrote.
“That’s why I am going to spend a lot of 2024 taking tribes of men through a 90 Day Transformational Intensive based on my experience.”
Weatherford invited readers of his post to send him a message if they “feel like you’re at a Super Bowl moment where you’ve achieved a lot but still feel empty.”
Weatherford also punted for the Jets in 2009, 2010 and part of 2015.