BleedGopher
Well-known member
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- Nov 11, 2008
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Per LeValle:
His football career ended during the 2008 season. He played three seasons with the Eagles before signing with the Vikings in 2008, then being released in October. Tapeh chuckled nervously when asked what his post-playing career was like.
"There's a thing called life. You've got to figure it out," he said. "Playing football was easy. You get up, go to work at practice. Get up, practice, play. But [now] you get up and you have to find work. To figure out life outside of football, it was hard because there were not many Liberians that played in the NFL when I was there."
With no one to relate to, his struggled during his post-playing career. He coached youth and high school football for awhile in New Jersey but wasn't happy. He moved to New Orleans and partnered in a sno-ball shop, which are popular there, but that venture didn't last.
"I went through life experiences of [not] playing football, the depression, psychotic thinking," he said. "It was hard because you worked so hard for Sunday, and now you're trying to figure out how you're going to take care of your family and live your life."
At the urging of former teammates during an Eagles alumni gathering, Tapeh reached out to the NFL players association. "They started giving me the services that I needed and got therapy," he said.
m.startribune.com
Go Gophers!!
His football career ended during the 2008 season. He played three seasons with the Eagles before signing with the Vikings in 2008, then being released in October. Tapeh chuckled nervously when asked what his post-playing career was like.
"There's a thing called life. You've got to figure it out," he said. "Playing football was easy. You get up, go to work at practice. Get up, practice, play. But [now] you get up and you have to find work. To figure out life outside of football, it was hard because there were not many Liberians that played in the NFL when I was there."
With no one to relate to, his struggled during his post-playing career. He coached youth and high school football for awhile in New Jersey but wasn't happy. He moved to New Orleans and partnered in a sno-ball shop, which are popular there, but that venture didn't last.
"I went through life experiences of [not] playing football, the depression, psychotic thinking," he said. "It was hard because you worked so hard for Sunday, and now you're trying to figure out how you're going to take care of your family and live your life."
At the urging of former teammates during an Eagles alumni gathering, Tapeh reached out to the NFL players association. "They started giving me the services that I needed and got therapy," he said.
Former Gopher Thomas Tapeh strives to help in his native Liberia through schools and coffee beans
The former member of the "Pair and a Spare" backfield at the U struggled after his football career ended in 2008, but he has found renewed purpose.
Go Gophers!!
