From New Orleans Saints safety Tyrann Mathieu to Buffalo Bills linebacker Lorenzo Carter, the last few weeks have seen a flurry of athlete retirement news. For many athletes, deciding to hang up their cleats can be a complicated decision.
Regardless of the sport or level of competition, retiring from elite sports can be tough. Having to find a new identity and cope with the loss of physical fitness can make this time in an athlete’s life difficult. This is especially true if the retirement occurs at a young age, often coinciding with other important milestones such as starting a family or finishing up university studies.
Athletes who choose to retire early often struggle with the transition out of competition as they are forced to re-establish their self-identity and relationships with others. This process becomes more challenging the longer an athlete has spent in professional sports. A recent scoping review found that retired athletes who were able to consciously detach their identities from those of a professional athlete experienced a more positive post-athletic transition.
One way that athletes can cope with this is by staying involved in the sport they love through coaching or administration. This is something that both Olympic champions and amateur long-time players have been able to do. It can also help to find a mentor who has been through the process themselves and can support them in making their own decisions about retiring from elite sports.