CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Carolina Panthers tight end Hayden Hurst will use this Sunday's game to raise awareness for military suicide prevention as part of the NFL's annual My Cause, My Cleats campaign.
Hurst will represent Face The Fight, a coalition founded by USAA with the goal of cutting military veteran suicide rates by half. He will wear the special cleats that feature Face The Fight, as well as the Hayden Hurst Family Foundation, during Sunday's game against Tampa Bay.
"Anything I can do to support the military and active-duty members, that's what I plan on doing," Hurst said in a video announcing the partnership.
Hurst launched his foundation after being drafted by the Baltimore Ravens in 2018. Initially focused on adolescent and teen suicide prevention, the Hayden Hurst Family Foundation now works to raise awareness about military suicide prevention. Hurst also discussed his own mental health journey in the video, explaining how he tried to mask his addiction by playing sports. Rather than facing those problems, Hurst attempted suicide in 2015.
"For me, it was kind of my rock bottom moment," Hurst said. "I was leading myself down a path of destruction."
Hurst was joined by two military members who discussed their losses to suicide and the pain they felt before receiving the necessary help.
"At one point, I was 24 hours away from suicide," retired Army veteran Vernard Hines said. "What led me to ask for help was my 12-year-old daughter saying she was scared of me. When I'd come from work she didn't know whether she could come and play with me, whether she could say hi, it was just so much. I realized I needed to seek help."
As for the cleats, Hurst explained his left cleat will be blue and black with digital camo. His right cleat will be more like a military boot. They include both foundations' logo and some personal touches inspired by Hurst's journey.
"It is the most liberating feeling when you have people in your corner. You feel like you're not fighting by yourself," Hurst said. "I have life experiences I went through. If one person can relate to it, I've done my job."
If you or a loved one are facing thoughts of suicide or self-harm, there is help readily available. You can call Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988 or chat with them online. There are also resources in North Carolina available here and in South Carolina available here.
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