Life After the Jersey: Trevor Ruhland on Identity and Mental Health | EP 174
From Raising Athletes by Kirsten Jones, Bleav
April 17, 2026 · 55 min
About this episode
Trevor Ruhland discusses the challenges of identity and mental health after his football career at Notre Dame.
In this honest conversation, former Trevor Ruhland opens up about what it really means to wear the jersey at University of Notre Dame—and what happens when the game is over. Trevor shares a behind-the-scenes look at the physical and mental demands of playing at one of college football’s most storied programs, offering insight into the pressure, discipline, and identity that come with competing at the highest level. But this episode goes far beyond football. Trevor gets real about the challenges he faced after his playing days ended—battling mental health struggles, navigating a loss of identity, and dealing with weight fluctuations both during and after college. His vulnerability sheds light on a side of athletics that often goes unspoken, especially for athletes transitioning out of sport. This is a conversation about more than just football—it’s about resilience, self-awareness, and the ongoing journey of redefining who you are when the game no longer defines you.
People in this episode
Guest: Trevor Ruhland
Topics covered
- identity
- mental health
- athletics
- resilience
- self-awareness
Keywords
- college football
- pressure
- discipline
- weight fluctuations
- transitioning out of sport
Mentioned in this episode
Books & works: Life After the Jersey:
More episodes of Raising Athletes
- Rehumaning: The Game-Changer for Kids Today with Stephanie Malia Krauss | EP 178 · April 20, 2026 · 1h 5m
- Former Florida Gator Patric Young Shares His Inspiring Story | EP 178 · April 19, 2026 · 1h 17m
- Building Better Athletes—and Better Humans with Ivan Lombard-Jackson | EP 176 · April 17, 2026 · 1h 12m
- Raising a D1 Athlete with David Murray | EP 175 · April 17, 2026 · 55 min
- Closing the Equity Gap Through Youth Programming | Marc Maye & Project Blue EP 173 · February 16, 2026 · 36 min
- Parenting Smart, Parenting Confident with Dr. Natasha Burgert | EP 172 · February 9, 2026 · 42 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Raising Athletes podcast page.