BEYOND THE FIELD: Marcus Smith II

Marcus's Story: In His Own Words

Recovery x Marcus Smith II

Listen to Marcus tell his story in his own words in his episode of Recovery x APN: Finding My Identity Outside of Football and Depression.

Marcus's Story: The Road to the NFL

Marcus’s struggle with anxiety and depression began at a young age. Despite these obstacles, Marcus threw himself into football and established himself as a noteworthy player throughout high school and college. In 2013, he was named the ACC Defensive Player of the Year and chosen as a third-team All-American pick.

Marcus became a Philadelphia Eagle during the first round of the 2014 NFL Draft, solidifying his status as a professional athlete. The pressure of his success amplified his personal struggles; even the rigorous demands of a professional training schedule couldn’t help him outrun his mental health.

Marcus’s Journey to APN Lodge

Anxiety and depression continued to chase Marcus on and off the field, following him to Seattle and later to Washington, DC.

Publicly, Marcus was a high-performing athlete who had successfully fought his way to the top of his career as a professional athlete in the NFL. Privately, Marcus continued to struggle with anxiety and depression and contemplated taking his own life.

Consumed by his thoughts as he drove to practice one day, Marcus began to drift his car off course in an effort to end his life. His plan was interrupted twice: first by his wife, and then by his mother; Marcus saw their calls as divine intervention and knew he had to get help. After entering treatment at APN Lodge, Marcus learned to unpack his trauma and identity, get to the root causes of his depression and anxiety, and discover tools that help him thrive in recovery.

MARCUS SMITH II x TEDx

Marcus Smith II took to the TEDx stage to deliver a talk that’s personal, powerful, and needed now more than ever. In just 8 minutes, Marcus opens up about his mental health journey, from the pressure of professional football and identity loss, to therapy, healing, and purpose.

His story is raw, honest, and deeply aligned with APN’s mission to redefine what strength looks like and create space for real, transformative healing.

The Circle of M

Now, Marcus inspires thousands of people on and off the field by encouraging them to prioritize their mental health through speaking opportunities and his podcast, The Circle of M.

Tap into The Circle of M with former NFL player Marcus Smith II as he flips the script on mental health with professional athletes, artists, clinicians, and community leaders.