Jason Snelling played his entire career as a successful running back for the Atlanta Falcons, but many may not know exactly what was going on off the field. Snelling was diagnosed with epilepsy when he was 15 after doctors couldn’t figure out the reason for his seizures. “One time, I remember being in New York City with my family during the summer and crossing the street,” Snelling told The New York Times. “And we’re crossing the street and I just blanked out as I was walking. Right there, in the middle of where traffic would be, I blanked out. After a couple seconds, I came back, but it was scary. Cars were honking their horn and everything.”
Snelling manages his condition with medication and a healthy lifestyle. Though he lived much stricter than many of his teammates, Snelling’s focus on his health allowed him to play professional football for seven seasons before retiring in 2014. With his NFL career behind him, Snelling has continued to give back to his community and help spread awareness by teaming up with The Epilepsy Foundation.
Read Related Also: Denmark confirms that they are restricting "gender-affirming" medical care
He’s participated in national walks for the organization and also visited children in hospitals that share his condition. “Epilepsy is something I have, but it doesn’t hold me back,” he told The New York Times. “I want to show people, kids in particular, what I can do. Maybe someday, some kid will be in the N.F.L. because I showed him he can have epilepsy and still chase his dreams.”
