Legendary former NFL quarterback Terry Bradshaw has opened up on his difficulties with depression and anxiety attacks in his new book.
The legendary former Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback, 78, describes in ‘Looking for Terry’ that he had undiagnosed ADHD and later suffered with crippling anxiety attacks.
Bradshaw, a four-time Super Bowl champion, also endured volatile emotional highs and lows throughout his NFL career. But, speaking to People, he admits ‘you didn’t talk about it’ in NFL locker rooms.
Bradshaw was diagnosed with depression in the late ’90s after his retirement from football. ‘It is an ugly disease,’ Bradshaw continued.
He also praised his wife Tammy for helping him through his difficult days.
‘She just gets me out of it. She gets my mind off of it. She frees me up,’ Bradshaw explained. ‘We do something. We talk about it.’
Terry Bradshaw has opened up on his battle with depression and anxiety attacks in a new book
Bradshaw was diagnosed with depression in the late ’90s after his retirement from football
The four-time Super Bowl winner praised wife Tammy for helping him through difficult days
‘I may be emotional about it, but I’m totally comfortable with telling her,’ he continued.
‘Men think that’s a weakness. I got past it being a weakness. It’s a sickness. There’s nothing wrong with admitting you’ve got issues.’
In recent days, Bradshaw has also refused to step down from his role at Fox despite many fans feeling the time has come for him to retire.
Bradshaw has been a mainstay on TV screens since he retired in 1984 and has been with Fox since 1994, appearing weekly on its flagship Fox NFL Sunday show.
But after a growing number of on-air mistakes in recent years there have been increased calls from viewers for him to be replaced by a fresh face.
His long-standing colleague, Jimmy Johnson, retired from broadcasting in 2025 after the Fox-hosted Super Bowl aged 81.
Bradshaw shed light on his own contract status with the network, confirming he was ‘nervous’ this year and was keen to extend his contract before agreeing to sign for two more years until Fox next hosts the Super Bowl in February 2029 in Las Vegas.
‘I love my job,’ Bradshaw told the Los Angeles Times. ‘This year was the first year that I got nervous. I wanted to extend my contract. So I signed through the Super Bowl. Two more years. I’ll be 80.’
Asked about stepping aside to let newer voices into the industry, Bradshaw responded: ‘Everybody in any business has to go. The young guys are coming.
‘But I want to be relevant. I want to be good. I want to continue on. I want America to [tune in] and watch me. I want them to [like] me. I can’t wait to do the show.’
