Detroit Lions running back David Montgomery has had a successful NFL career, rushing for over 1,000 yards twice in his six seasons and playing a pivotal role in a team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations this year. However, despite his achievements on the field, Montgomery recently opened up about a dark and difficult period during his rookie year with the Chicago Bears—a time when fantasy football criticism had a profound impact on his mental health.
During an appearance on Sports Illustrated’s fantasy football podcast, Fantasy Dirt, hosted by Michael Fabiano and Lindsay Rhodes, Montgomery shared the emotional toll he experienced early in his career, revealing that he struggled with depression and suicidal thoughts. He partly attributed these feelings to the harsh treatment he received from fantasy football managers who were critical of his performance.
“When I was a rookie, I had a real, real stressful time in the league,” Montgomery recalled. “I was at a point where I would have suicidal thoughts, and it was just a deep depression. A scary year for me. Unfortunately, the people in fantasy football were contributing to those feelings. I was in such a dark place that I was scared to live.”
Montgomery shared that during this difficult time, it was a phone call from his nephew that might have saved his life. He reflected on how that single conversation pulled him back from the brink when he was considering making a devastating decision.
“I was in a situation where I was this close to doing something that would have changed the trajectory of my life, or changed the trajectory of everyone else around me,” Montgomery revealed. “And my nephew called me right in the midst of it. He didn’t say anything about football, or how fast I was, or what I needed to do. He just said, ‘Uncle Dave, I miss you. How are you doing?’ My nephew, who has leukemia, called me at the exact moment I needed him.”
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That phone call, according to Montgomery, changed his outlook on life. “Hearing my nephew’s voice made me realize that I could never, ever allow anyone to have that much control over my mind and body, to make me feel like I wasn’t worth anything,” he said. “I made a vow to myself that I had a purpose on this Earth, and I wasn’t going to let others take that away from me.”
Since that dark time, Montgomery has sought help through therapy, which he says has been transformative. “I’ve been seeing a therapist for five years now, and it’s changed my life,” he shared. “I’ve learned how to regulate my emotions, how to express myself, and how to know that I am enough. I’ve been through a lot of things, and a lot of people don’t really know who I am. But I get to define who I am now, and how I want my son to view me. I’m enjoying life for exactly what it is.”
Montgomery’s vulnerability and openness about mental health have shone a light on the pressures professional athletes face, both on and off the field. The added layer of fantasy football has created an environment where players often feel dehumanized, with their performance scrutinized for how it impacts fans’ fantasy teams, rather than their own well-being.
Montgomery’s journey has come full circle, with the running back now enjoying one of the best stretches of his career. He has scored a touchdown in all four games so far this season, helping the Detroit Lions push toward a 4-1 record as they prepare to face the Dallas Cowboys this Sunday.
Despite the challenges he faced early in his career, Montgomery is now thriving, both personally and professionally, having found peace and a renewed sense of purpose.
His story is a powerful reminder of the importance of mental health, and his message of perseverance is one that resonates well beyond the football field.
