Steelers Great Greg Lloyd Thankful NFLPA Offered Life Saving Support "Kept Me From Either Killing Myself Or Killing Sombody Else"

Pittsburgh Steelers legendary outside linebacker, Greg Lloyd was known as the "baddest man in football" for his ferocity on the gridiron. While Lloyd was striking fear in the hearts of offenses all over the country in the '90s, there was another side to him that isn't normally seen. Now, Lloyd has opened up about his troubled childhood and how it almost cost him everything.  

During his 11 years in Pittsburgh, Lloyd served as both a founding member and the backbone of the team's famous "Blitzburgh" defense. He was a controversial figure. Think of him as a precursor to James Harrison. The majority of Steelers fans loved him for his aggressive style of play along with his incredible work ethic.  

However, in other cities, it was another issue. They felt Lloyd was "dirty" and often cited the number of penalties he drew as a way to confirm that. But Lloyd was just doing his job. In his mind, if you were dressed in black and gold, you were one of the good guys and he would protect those teammates at all costs. 

While playing at Fort Valley State, a historically black university, Lloyd was discovered by Steelers scout Bill Nunn. Nunn led the charge in the NFL to help players from HBCUs get the recognition they deserved and to get drafted.   

Ultimately the Steelers selected him in the sixth round of the 1987 NFL Draft and gave him a chance to compete for a spot. In one of the cruelest twists of fate, Lloyd suffered back-to-back knee injuries in his first and second seasons in the NFL. These injuries kept him sidelined until midway through his second season. Lloyd was terrified he was going to lose his job before he even got it, but he said Steelers owner Dan Rooney came to visit him in the hospital and offered reassurance.  

During his time in Pittsburgh, he played in 131 games, starting 125 of them. He had 10 interceptions, 34 forced fumbles, 53.5 sacks and 727 combined tackles. He was a First-Team All-Pro for three straight seasons and spent two seasons as the co-leader of the NFL's record for forced fumbles.  

While fans often glamorize football and all of the fame that goes with it, Lloyd said that, for him, there was a darker side. Lloyd, who is typically a very private person, recently gave an interview and he talked about the many burdens he carried and how he overcame them. 

Steelers' Greg Lloyd Thanks The NFLPA For Saving His Life

Lloyd recently appeared on actor, Eddie Mata's podcast, The Eddie Mata Show. He spoke about his difficult childhood and how that influenced him. Lloyd told Mata that when he was very young, his mother dumped him and his five siblings off at his aunt's house. His aunt was living in a small two-bedroom apartment and already had several children of her own. 

Lloyd said his aunt was raised as an uneducated sharecropper, however, she pushed the children to succeed. He said he often got bullied for going to school in the same clothes, but he never went hungry nor was he neglected. His aunt pushed them to work hard in school, promising them that an education was the way to a better life.

His aunt also took him to church every Sunday. Lloyd said that with all of the sermons he listened to, some were bound to sink in. He said that he learned to keep God at the forefront of his thoughts, and this often surprised people. A former college teammate expressed his shock to Lloyd. 

"I watched you every Sunday morning get up and walk to church and come back. People who know number 95, they go there's no way that guy could know God."

Lloyd said that his faith allowed him to learn to forgive himself and others. He shared with Mata that he will be the first person to point out that he is "flawed" but he wakes up knowing that God loves him no matter what.  

"People now go, 'Man you're nice now' and it's like a lot of the darkness is gone. A lot of the stuff that I was dealing with is gone."

With total transparency, Lloyd shared with Mata that all of the anger he had suppressed regarding his mother, his difficult childhood, and the bullying all built up inside of him. He struggled to open up and trust or even find healthy outlets for his anger. 

Football gave Lloyd a physical release for his pent-up aggression. He used that anger to help him hyper-focus on the job at hand and in turn became one of the most laser-focused defenders in the NFL. But it is not just his aunt and God that he is thankful for. 

"I thank the NFLPA and the NFL for putting in place us being able to go and talk to therapists. I'm not ashamed. I've been in therapy for 34 years and it probably kept me from either killing myself or killing sombody else. I know there's a dark side of me."

Lloyd said that when that "dark side" comes to the surface, he is able to recognize it. When that happens, he needs to be by himself. He knows this might be uncomfortable for people to hear as everyone only wants to hear the good stuff according to Lloyd. However, if you leave the bad stuff out then it is not a true autobiography.  

As fans, we can help by alleviating the stigma that comes from men saying they need mental health support. As a nation, we are seeing the increasing impact of even minor brain damage on the human psyche. That repetitive damage leads to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). A number of physicians link CTE to increasing rates of suicide and/or aggressive behavior in former players. Hopefully, Lloyd speaking out will encourage someone who may be struggling but is scared to ask for help to open up.

While neither Lloyd nor anyone else is suggesting he has CTE, it can only be diagnosed posthumously, it is also not uncommon for former players to experience depression. Now more and more players, like Lloyd, are speaking up about the impact of the game on their mental health in hopes of helping other players seek help.  

If you feel hopeless or alone please reach out for confidential support - dial or text 988 from your mobile device. 

Are you surprised that Lloyd has been in therapy since his days as a player? Why is it that so many people are afraid to ask for help? Do you think having a "tough guy" like Lloyd speak out helps? Click to comment below. 

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