The past few weeks have brought a flurry of athlete retirement news, from Super Bowl hero Nick Foles to women’s sports pioneer Alex Morgan. Whether it’s the result of injury, age or a desire to pursue other interests, retiring from sport can be a difficult transition. Athletes spend their entire lives preparing for the big moment, but once they hang up their cleats it can be hard to figure out what to do next.
One of the biggest challenges is finding self-identity outside of their sport. This may be harder for elite and professional athletes, who often devote their entire lives to training and competing, but it is something that even amateur long-time players can struggle with. It’s also not uncommon for athletes to feel a disconnect from their peers once they retire, especially if the friendships formed in the sport community were predominately forged with other athletes from their sport.
It can be equally challenging to find financial stability after retiring from a high-level career. Thousands of dollars in elite coaching and equipment can add up quickly, and athletes often forgo regular employment to train around the clock. Many athletes report relying on food stamps and racking up credit card debt in their early post-athletic years.
Fortunately, it’s not uncommon for former athletes to find non-traditional ways to reshape their post-athletic careers. Many turn to coaching, business or politics after their careers end, while others take on public speaking, philanthropic and mentoring roles.