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John Moffitt's post-NFL life profiled in The New York Times

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"John Moffitt spent 20 years to reach the pinnacle of his profession, a day to ditch that job and a year grappling with the consequences of his decision."

That's the lede to a New York Times story on John Moffitt, written by Ken Belson. Moffitt, as most here will remember, was a Wisconsin Badgers offensive lineman from 2007-10 and one of the most likeable, quotable and funny players to come through UW in some time. He was drafted by the Seattle Seahawks in the third round of the 2011 NFL Draft, and played there through 2012. He spent a little time with the Denver Broncos in 2013, but then he walked away from the game and spurred a national story of outsiders stunned by a pro football player walking away in his prime. That in and of itself isn't new, but Moffitt's decision was exceptionally interesting considering the persisting storylines of NFL players current and former facing ongoing health issues. Moffitt has said he felt like a "commodity" for the NFL, and with his passion for the game fading, he elected to retire.

In the aftermath, Moffitt struggled to find new occupations, was arrested in a Chicago bar just before St. Patrick's Day for drug possession and has generally struggled to pin down his post-football aspirations. That was a wake-up call of sorts for Moffitt, who as the Times story details, is interested in film and possibly driving an Uber cab to earn money while he continues trying his hand at standup comedy.

The full story is well worth your time, both for its coverage of a beloved UW alum and the perspective it gleans into how athletes often struggle with very real-world issues.