Former Steelers’ Right Tackle Marcus Gilbert was a damn good football player. He was regarded as one of the better players at his position and was a key member of a thriving offensive line in Pittsburgh. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler has detailed Gilbert’s path from Steelers’ great to a guy traded for a sixth round draft pick. This should serve as a warning for all NFL players and in a variety of ways.
In the piece, Fowler claims Gilbert struggled with his injuries, with fatherhood and the fact he was not treated well on social media. For the record, Gilbert has disputed some of this via Twitter.
A recent article came out about my trade to Arizona that did not accurately reflect my feelings. I am ecstatic to be an Arizona Cardinal. I'm excited about being with the Cardinals organization and looking forward to this season.
— Marcus Gilbert (@MarcusGilbert88) May 17, 2019
Very disappointed, misrepresentation.
— Marcus Gilbert (@MarcusGilbert88) May 17, 2019
But this goes beyond Gilbert. It’s a signal flare from a stranded sailboat in the middle of the ocean. This is the NFL where it’s really, really simple. If you spend more time in the tub than on the field then you don’t make the club. This was Gilbert. Injuries plagued him so much that his backup, Chris Hubbard, was given his shot to play and he turned it into a huge contract with the Browns. Throw in a drug suspension and more injuries and then Matt Feiler proved he could handle Gilbert’s spot too.
You may have heard this before but the NFL is a business. It’s thankless. It’s brutal. It’s often downright deplorable. It does not slow down for you because you’re hurt and no amount of players that faced this before you can prepare you for it.
But Gilbert’s lesson doesn’t end there. His admission that social media took a toll on him as well should also serve as a warning. While I think it’s terrific that so many athletes are willing to engage fans via Twitter and Instagram there’s also a scary downside. If you suddenly aren’t able to contribute to the team then you can quickly become the target of fan backlash. And as Gilbert found out, the turnaround can be fast and pretty harsh.
There’s a lot that NFL teams can teach players and a lot players can learn from the veterans but there are no blueprints for having a stellar career one minute and being discarded the next. Gilbert has his shot now at redemption in Arizona which is something many players never get.
