Brandon Marshall Shares His Moment

There's a moment in everyone's life where courage externalizes and, without announcing itself, takes over. A person's convictions are shifted, and life suddenly feels like it’s moving at a frame rate we aren’t normally accustomed to.

New York Jets wide receiver Brandon Marshall understands this. He knows this. He’s lived this.

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Marshall’s moment came amidst a tumultuous 2011. While searching for an outfit in his closet to wear on gameday, this common form of self expression turned into an agonizing battle. “I literally spent almost an hour in my closet in 2011, trying to find the right outfit to wear,” he told Champs Sports. 

If you remember, 2011 was the year Marshall announced he had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. The 6’4” Marshall was a real-life superhero on the field. He was an NFL star, and by every logical definition of the word, superstars don’t face hard times. 

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Marshall didn’t have to reveal anything.

But he reached a decision to come forward anyway and share his story, no strings attached. “I want to be the face of it (borderline personality disorder). To help,” he graciously explained to Champs Sports.

Life didn’t come easy after his announcement. Marshall was constantly trying to fit in and make the “right” decisions.

One day, as he frantically searched for an outfit to continue to fit in with society and live up to the pressure of dealing with the disorder, Marshall’s wife, Michi Nogami, stepped in and provided a layer of lasting clarity. “It wasn’t until my wife came in and said, 'Be yourself.'"

Her powerful words uncovered a revelation in Marshall’s mind. Instead of resorting to dress shirts and other things he perceived people wanted to see him in, Marshall instead grabbed a clean cut of denim jeans, a white T-shirt, a fitted hat and a comfortable pair of kicks. He headed out the front door and proceeded to have one of the best games of his life.

That was the moment of clarity where Brandon Marshall truly became himself.

Bill Wippert/Associated Press

“You have to be mindful of that moment. If I wasn’t mindful of that moment where my wife walked in my closet, saw me struggling inside and out, and said, 'Be yourself'—if I was to ignore that, it would have changed the direction I ended up going in life,” Marshall mentioned to Champs.

Moments like these change lives. Seeing our favorite athletes overcome serves as inspiration to give us courage and strength. It’s not only about Brandon Marshall. It’s about all of us, facing our fears and becoming true to who we are.

Alongside this important moment, Champs Sports will also be rolling out a series dedicated to giving people an inside look at pivotal timestamps in various pro athletes' lives dubbed "We Know Game." Be on the lookout for more stories like Marshall's in the near future.