Ben Utecht is a talented young man. At just 33 years old, he’s already on to his second profession as a singer/songwriter. Normally, this is where the story would go into Utecht’s upbringing around music and how it was a passion for him, but this story is far different than the norm.
Utecht is a former NFL tight end. He started his career catching passes from Peyton Manning as a member of the Indianapolis Colts, winning a Super Bowl with the team in 2006. Being Manning’s tight end is a dream job for any player at that position. After success as a Colt, Utecht received a three-year, $9 million contract from the Cincinnati Bengals. Life had to be good, right?
Wrong.
Utecht, like many other former NFL players, began suffering from post-concussion syndrome. The headaches, the mood swings, short-term memory loss…you’ve heard the symptoms before. But what Utecht did recently, really speaks to what kind of person he is.
Utecht, a husband and father of three young daughters, used his musical talents to write a song for his family in case he someday doesn’t remember them. Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune wrote a great piece about Utecht, his family, and his decision to write this song. Utecht is quoted as saying:
It was a chance for me to tell my girls that no matter what happens to me and my brain,” he said, “they’re always going to be there.
If this doesn’t melt your heart, you should get your ticker checked out. You should read Scoggin’s full story. He does a great job painting a picture of what it’s like being a young man and dealing with such damaging results to injuries suffered in a “grown man’s game.”
Hopefully for the Utechts, these symptoms improve and the worst days are behind them.
To learn more about Utecht’s story, visit his website.
Photo: WME.com