Beyond the Gridiron: NAMI, Marino & NFL Wives Target Mental Health

ARLINGTON, Va. – February 03, 2026 – As the nation’s attention turns to San Francisco for the biggest spectacle in American sports, a powerful coalition is leveraging the Super Bowl's massive platform to address a crisis that often remains in the shadows. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has announced a landmark partnership with the Off The Field NFL Wives Association and Hall of Fame quarterback Dan Marino to launch a significant mental health awareness initiative, turning the week of the big game into a stage for advocacy, education, and support.

The Unseen Toll of the Game

The glamour and intensity of professional football often obscure the profound mental and emotional pressures faced by its players and their families. The physical toll of the sport is well-documented, but the psychological impact is equally significant and far more silent. Research paints a sobering picture: former NFL players grapple with mental health challenges at alarming rates. Studies indicate that approximately one in four former players report symptoms of anxiety or depression.

This mental health burden is often linked to the very nature of the game. The risk for serious cognitive problems, depression, and anxiety escalates with career length and is strongly correlated with concussion symptoms, with effects that can linger for decades after a player leaves the field. The intense public scrutiny, the pressure to perform, and the difficult transition to life after football create a perfect storm of stressors. This pressure doesn't end with the player; it ripples outward, deeply affecting the spouses, partners, and children who form their core support system.

"Athletes carry a lot of pressure, and the families who support them carry it too," said Daniel H. Gillison Jr., CEO of NAMI, who drew upon his own experiences as a former student-athlete. "No one should have to navigate mental health challenges alone, and at NAMI, we're committed to making sure athletes and their families know help and support are always within reach."

A United Front for Wellness

To confront this complex issue, NAMI has assembled a team with deep ties to the football community. The collaboration with Off The Field NFL Wives Association (OTFNFLWA) brings a critical perspective, focusing on the families who are the bedrock of the NFL community. Founded in 2006, OTFNFLWA is a national nonprofit dedicated to charitable causes and empowering the wives and partners of current and former players. Their involvement ensures that the conversation around mental health includes the often-unseen support network.

"NFL families brave challenges with a strength and resilience that often goes unrecognized," stated Tenisha Patterson Brown, Esq, president of Off The Field. "We're thrilled to join with NAMI to empower and uplift NFL families with connection, community, and mental health support."

A key moment during the week will be the Off The Field's Legacy in Lights Awards Brunch, where the inaugural Resilience Impact Award will be presented to recognize women who have lost their partners to mental health conditions, a poignant tribute to the devastating consequences of untreated mental illness.

Anchoring the initiative's public-facing efforts is NFL legend Dan Marino. His continued partnership with NAMI through his Stay Healthy Zone platform adds a layer of celebrity advocacy and practical wellness tools. The Stay Healthy Zone is a digital wellness platform designed to help individuals manage stress and improve health through personalized meal plans, fitness videos, and wellness challenges, furthering NAMI's focus on holistic well-being.

Scoring for Equity: From NFL Families to HBCU Campuses

While the Super Bowl provides a powerful launchpad, NAMI's strategy extends far beyond the NFL. The organization is using this moment to reinforce its deep commitment to mental health equity, particularly within Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and through partnerships with the Divine 9, the nation's historically Black Greek letter fraternities and sororities.

This dual focus highlights a sophisticated understanding of mental health advocacy: leveraging a high-visibility platform to drive a national conversation while simultaneously strengthening grassroots efforts in communities that have been historically underserved. By working with HBCUs and the Divine 9, NAMI aims to expand access to mental health services, reduce stigma, and promote culturally responsive care. This work is critical, as it acknowledges and addresses the unique stressors and barriers to care faced by Black and African Ancestry communities, ensuring that the push for mental wellness is inclusive and equitable.

This broader strategy demonstrates that the Super Bowl initiative is not an isolated event but a component of a larger mission to make mental health support accessible to everyone, meeting people where they are, from NFL locker rooms to college campuses.

The Super Bowl Week Playbook

The partnership will come to life through a series of high-profile events in the San Francisco Bay Area, each designed to reach a different audience and amplify the message of mental wellness.

• Radio Row: NAMI CEO Daniel H. Gillison Jr. and NAMI Ambassador April Simpkins will engage with a global media audience, driving home the message that mental health is integral to overall health for everyone.
• Legacy in Lights Awards Brunch: Beyond the awards, the brunch will feature Gillison Jr. and Simpkins speaking on mental health and lived experience, with Peloton Instructor Jess Sims leading a mindful moment, directly integrating wellness practices into the event.
• 25th Annual Charity Fashion Show: The long-running Off The Field event will feature mental health as a key focus, bringing together women from the NFL community to raise funds and awareness in a glamorous, high-energy setting.
• Off The Field Girls in Flag: The initiative will also invest in the next generation with a youth-focused event at Laney College in Oakland, using sports as a vehicle for mentorship, community, and empowerment for young women.

By strategically embedding mental health conversations and resources into the fabric of Super Bowl week, NAMI and its partners are working to normalize the topic, encourage help-seeking behavior, and build a more supportive community for athletes and fans alike. This multi-faceted approach aims to create a lasting impact, ensuring the conversation about mental wellness continues long after the final whistle blows.