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Former NFL running back Willis McGahee<\/strong> is opening up on the dark place he was in after his career ended in 2013 … revealing he contemplated taking his own life “a couple times” as he struggled to find his purpose off the gridiron.<\/p>\n 42-year-old McGahee — who played in the NFL from 2003-2013 — detailed his issues adjusting to life after football in an interview with The Athletic<\/strong> <\/strong>on Thursday … saying, “When it\u2019s gone, you really have nothing to fall back on.”<\/p>\n “It\u2019s just a lot coming at you, man, and it gets mentally tough.”<\/p>\n McGahee was a stellar running back, but his career was plagued by countless injuries. Despite his recurring ailments, he managed to earn more than 8,400 yards and 65 touchdowns on the ground … adding over 1,300 yards and another five touchdowns receiving.<\/p>\n Even though he felt like he could still play following the 2013 season, the league felt otherwise … and he was forced to move on — something he said he really struggled with in the years following.<\/p>\n McGahee said he has gotten better with his mental health struggles by going to therapy and focusing on his 10 children — but his physical pain continues to this day, and he claims the NFL is abandoning players like him who need help through its disability benefits.<\/p>\n While McGahee said he is receiving line-of-duty benefits for substantial disability due to NFL activities, he said he is continuously getting shut down from collecting any sort of assistance for neurocognitive impairment — which led to a lawsuit.<\/p>\n “It\u2019s not benefiting the players who are really, actually hurt and going through stuff in life,” McGahee said. “They\u2019re not taking care of us. It\u2019s a sham. I\u2019m tired of it. Somebody has to step up and do something about it.”<\/p>\n McGahee explained he would do it all again if he could … but ultimately, a decision he’ll have to deal with moving forward.<\/p>\n “I don\u2019t regret it,” McGahee said. “But it\u2019s something I\u2019ve got to deal with now.”<\/p>\n![\"willis](\"https:\/\/imagez.tmz.com\/image\/ac\/4by3\/2023\/12\/07\/acda0192dc3346a69245d2892f38af7d_md.png\")
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