{"id":26551,"date":"2026-08-12T02:09:14","date_gmt":"2026-08-12T02:09:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=26551"},"modified":"2026-08-12T02:09:14","modified_gmt":"2026-08-12T02:09:14","slug":"he-once-trained-to-play-in-the-nfl-now-jb-copeland-works-as-a-voice-for-mental-health","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/worldbodybuildingnews.com\/?p=26551","title":{"rendered":"He Once Trained to Play in the NFL. Now, JB Copeland Works as a Voice for Mental Health"},"content":{"rendered":"

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In the last four years, JB Copeland<\/a> has cemented himself as an encouraging presence in the mental health advocacy space, especially among young men.<\/p>\n

But this was never his Plan A.<\/p>\n

From adolescence into early adulthood, the 31-year-old had envisioned a future that looked much different. In his mind, football had always been the ultimate goal.<\/p>\n

\u201cFootball had been my life since I was 6 years old. When I thought about what I wanted to do, it was always, \u2018play in the NFL,\u2019\u201d he told Muscle & Fitness.<\/em> \u201cThere was no Plan B. I\u2019d made up my mind that this is why I\u2019m here and this is what I\u2019m going to do.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, during his junior year of college at University of North Carolina, Copeland was forced to adapt to a new, unprecedented reality.<\/p>\n

A Promising Trajectory<\/h2>\n

Born Dec. 6, 1994, John Byron Copeland grew up in Southlake, TX, later attending Southlake Carroll High School, where he proved to be a gifted linebacker. Copeland completed 90 total tackles his junior year (with 45 solo stops) and 41 tackles over three games his senior year (which was cut short due to injury).<\/p>\n

The 6\u20193\u201d, 230-pound prodigy then took his talents to Navarro College, where he racked up some more notable stats<\/a>: 116 total tackles in just 10 games during the 2015 season; 11.6 tackles per game (7th overall at the time among junior colleges); five sacks and seven tackles for loss (including one forced fumble and one fumble recovery)\u2014all of which earned him the rating as no. 10 college outside linebacker prospect nationwide.<\/p>\n

After a year with Navarro, Copeland committed to New Mexico State University, thus beginning his Division I career. In his freshman season with the Aggies<\/a>, he played for nine games, tallying 43 tackles.<\/p>\n

Finally, Copeland signed with the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Dec. 2015, earning a scholarship to play with the Tar Heels during his junior year and their 2016 season.<\/p>\n

Sadly, back-to-back concussions in his debut season with UNC sidelined Copeland for not just the rest of that season, but for the rest of his life.<\/p>\n

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<\/div>
JB Copeland<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Saying Goodbye to the Gridiron<\/h2>\n

After dedicating nearly 15 years of his life to football, Copeland was at a loss over what to do next. Plagued by intrusive thoughts and an unexpected reckoning with his identity, he fell into a \u201ccomplete mental downward spiral.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEmotionally, years of suppressed anxiety and depression came to the surface. I didn\u2019t have the structure I\u2019d had before,\u201d he began. \u201cI was always so busy training, going to school, and reaching for my goal that when that pursuit came to an end, everything I\u2019d been numbing came to the surface.\u201d<\/p>\n

Physically, he wasn\u2019t exactly better off, either. Within three months of retiring, he dropped 55 pounds due to paralyzing anxiety.<\/p>\n

Moreover, during an interview this past May,<\/a> Copeland shared that he was prescribed Xanax to treat said anxiety. But, as he attempted to shoulder the weight of his anguish alone, he began taking more than he was advised to. Yet, it still wasn\u2019t enough.<\/p>\n

Soon, Copeland was asking teammates who\u2019d recently undergone surgeries for their prescription medications to further supplement his dependency.<\/p>\n

By his senior year, he lost his scholarship and flunked out of UNC.<\/p>\n

Without the proper tools to sort through his feelings, he continued to rely on various vices for years. \u201cAt that time, it was the only way I could feel some type of internal safety.\u201d<\/p>\n

Eventually, though, Copeland\u2019s substance abuse proved to be an unsustainable solution. In April 2022, he suffered a severe panic attack landed him in the ER.<\/p>\n

And, suddenly, all the uncomfortable truths he\u2019d kept suppressed could no longer be ignored.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne day, the parts of you that you buried alive begin to revolt,\u201d he told M&F.<\/em> \u201cThe Band Aid doesn\u2019t work anymore, and the journey into the darkness within must begin.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Only Way Out Is Through<\/h2>\n

With his hospitalization serving as a major wake-up call, Copeland knew that he needed to confront his addiction\u2014and his emotions\u2014head-on.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019d been in such a long season of darkness and \u2018comfort\u2019 that I had to do something to get me out of my comfort zone,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, I had a conversation with my wife, and I made the decision to check into an addiction rehab facility in a small country town outside of Dallas.\u201d<\/p>\n

While he was terrified of this decision, 90 days in rehab ultimately changed the trajectory of his life. There, he discovered new ways to cope mentally, emotionally, and physically.<\/p>\n

In addition to attending group therapy sessions, Copeland found refuge in working out and eating clean for the entirety of his stay, crediting both as his springboard into healing.<\/p>\n

\u201cAt the time, my mind and emotions felt out of control. I couldn\u2019t find balance, so I decided to focus on the one thing I knew I could control: my body.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDiscipline in those early weeks opened up a portal to deeper healing for me. Focusing on the physical\u2014building muscle and sweating\u2014opened up a doorway for me to give it my all mentally and emotionally. I knew this discipline was something I\u2019d need to hold onto for the rest of my life.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although his three months in rehab wasn\u2019t easy, Copeland could finally be honest with himself\u2014and others\u2014about his mental-emotional wellbeing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I got out of rehab, a lot of people around me wanted to hear about my journey. They were curious, yes, but they were also going through their own version of what I\u2019d gone through. I thought, \u2018Maybe there are more people who feel this way. Maybe I should speak on it.\u2019 And that\u2019s what I did.\u201d<\/p>\n

And with honesty as his foundation, the former NFL hopeful began to build his platform.<\/p>\n

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\"JB<\/div>
JB Copeland<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Healing in Motion<\/h2>\n

Since Copeland\u2019s time in rehab, he\u2019s amassed a following of 2 million on Instagram, 877,900 on TikTok, and 20,400 on YouTube, where he frequently imparts life advice on his followers.<\/p>\n

Further, in 2026, he debuted his social series Whatever Works,<\/a> where he focuses on conversations around emotional awareness, mental health, healing, and identity.<\/p>\n

The same year, he published his first book, Sappy Medium: The Rough Draft<\/a><\/em>, a so-called \u201cself-feel\u201d book comprised of Copeland\u2019s short writings, letters, and unfiltered thoughts about healing, self-trust, grief, softness, and \u201clearning to live in the middle.\u201d<\/p>\n

(What\u2019s more: He\u2019s currently developing an app that bridges the connection between mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical health.)<\/p>\n

Today, between advocacy work and business ventures, Copeland continues to redefine what living \u201cin the middle\u201d looks like for him.<\/p>\n

As far as his workout regimen, he\u2019s transitioned from the heavy lifting he adhered to in rehab to a more \u201cfunctional\u201d routine, including cardio, bodyweight work, and core strength.<\/p>\n

Beyond training, he also acknowledges that there are areas where he still struggles.<\/p>\n

\u201c[Fostering] Community is something I\u2019ve had a hard time with. I tend to isolate and stay in my head. But over the last few years, I\u2019ve realized that I can\u2019t do it alone.<\/p>\n

I have my wife\u2014who\u2019s always been by my side\u2014my parents, my two brothers, and a few close friends. But I feel like this is a weak spot in my life, and I want to get better at it.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, there\u2019s something to be said about the close friendships Copeland does have\u2014and how valuable close, trusted friendships can be for men of all ages.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you\u2019re a man, there\u2019s another man out there you can be completely honest with. When you bring that level of honesty to a relationship, the only option you have is to grow. We need accountability, and we can\u2019t have it when we hold secrets. So, get things off your chest. What you\u2019re feeling, struggling with, and thinking, is important. The truth will set you free.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lastly, as for high school and collegiate-aged athletes (and non-athletes, really) whose identities are largely defined by a specific goal\u2014just as Copeland\u2019s once was\u2014he has some sage advice:<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen something becomes who you are, that thing will always let you down. I\u2019m a big believer in giving it everything you have but not letting it become who you are. It\u2019s a sport. Your life is bigger than a game. So, learn to deal with your emotions in a healthy way. Don\u2019t let the stress of performance cause you to fall. It\u2019s just a game, so play the game\u2014don\u2019t let it play you.\u201d<\/p>\n

If you or someone you know is struggling or in a crisis, call or text the Suicide & Crisis lifeline at 988 for free, confidential, 24\/7 support.\u00a0<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n