Former Green Bay Packers tight end Brandon Bosick dubbed it "the play". Packers fans are all too familiar with The Play, and many of them overreacted after it happened. Bossic accepts full responsibility for his actions against the Seattle Seahawks in the 2015 NFC Championship Game, but he has since paid the price.
Bosick received much criticism for incorrectly handling an onside kick, which would have possibly sent the Packers to the Super Bowl if handled correctly. Instead, the backlash resulted in him being diagnosed with Major Depressive Disorder, fueled by outright disgust. According to Sportscasting, Bostick is now focused on helping others improve their mental health.
Brandon Bosick: 'I didn't do my job'
Green Bay Packers' Brandon Bostick runs upstairs after catching the ball as Jo-Lon Dunbar of the St. Louis Rams looks on. On August 16, 2014, the St. Louis Rams defend at the Edward Jones Dome during a precision game. St. Louis, Missouri is a city in the United States. , Photo Credit: Getty Images/Jamie Squires
It was Bostick's job to block. With 2:09 remaining in the game, the Seahawks scored to reduce the lead to 19-14. To stay in claim of a Super Bowl berth, he needed to recover an onside kick.
Bostick's job was to allow wide receiver Jordi Nelson to catch the ball after it was kicked his way. Instead, Bostick went for the ball, mishandled it, and the Seahawks were able to reclaim possession. He scored on the field, and won the game in overtime.
Bostic told Sportscasting on Friday that he "didn't do my job." "Blocking was supposed to be my job." I would have been mad at myself even if I had caught the ball because I hadn't done my job."
After the game, Bostick felt like the most lonely man in the world. In the locker room he said he didn't get any pushback.
Did he get any help from them?
"No," he said.
Fans were cruel to Bostick while there was silence inside the locker room. Every social media platform was used to attack them. They were toxic to say the least.
He described the atmosphere as "all negativity". "Death threats and racist remarks. It pulled me into a gloomy environment."
Brandon Bosick was given the diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD).
Can you forgive Brandon Bosick for failing an onside kick in the 2014 NFC Championship Game?
People are cruel, and social media can be a competitor's worst nightmare. Despite the humiliation he received from internet trolls, Bossic said he wouldn't give up social media during his playing days if he had to put an end to it.
Bostick was diagnosed by M.D.D. in the year 2020. According to him, Bostick never dealt with mental health issues until "after playing in 2015". Bostick revealed on Twitter last week that he needs to take 15-20 pills a day. He didn't exaggerate when he said so. According to him, Bostick sees a therapist as well as a psychologist.
Bostick is doing much better as compared to 2015.
"I'm in a better place," he admitted, "but I'm still on the mend." It has been a challenge, but I am constantly looking for ways to improve."
San Francisco 49ers safety Jakiwski Tart dropped a game-winning interception against the Los Angeles Rams in last week's NFC Championship game. The Rams, on the other hand, fought back and won, securing a spot in the Super Bowl.
Tart took responsibility for the loss, saying it "disappointed my brothers", which brought back memories of the 2015 season.
"I can definitely relate," Bostick said. "I know full well how you feel. As an athlete, you will always be hard on yourself. I would just advise him to be kind to himself."
Bostick is now a mental health counselor for others.
I struggled with my mental health and purpose after my NFL career ended. As I continue down this path, my goal is to help others who are experiencing similar mental and physical difficulties. To help others heal and change their lives, I founded Sage Elite, a mental health center. twitter.com/Nnb1CUMwc1 pic.twitter.com/Nnb1CUMwc1 pic.twitter.com/Nnb1CUMw
— Brandon Bosick (@Bostick11) November 9, 2021
Bostick hasn't played football since 2016, when he spent a season with the New York Jets. He's figuring out how to live without his favorite sport. He understands that only a small percentage of people make it to the NFL, but he was able to fulfill his dream, as well as the dreams of many other youngsters. That won't stop the actions of some lowly keyboard warriors from doing what they really want to do: helping others.
"I only ever played football," he admitted. "That part is done, but the rest of my life is just getting started."