My ADHD Story: Terry Bradshaw

The former quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1970 to 1983 was Terry Paxton Bradshaw, who had been diagnosed with both depression and ADHD. Ever since his childhood, Bradshaw had been battling with depression and ADHD. As we go further into this reading, we will see his experiences and trials. Despite all, he still overcame his fears and became a legendary football player.

A Rough Start

The former quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1970 to 1983 was Terry Paxton Bradshaw, who had been diagnosed with both depression and ADHD. Ever since his childhood, Bradshaw had been battling with depression and ADHD. In his book, It’s Only A Game, Terry shared how he had difficulty reading and how this would later on manifest into being bullied by his classmates in school. Until his college years, he was frequently teased and was called “dumb” for having low grades, however, he used this as a motivation to become one of the best quarterbacks in history.

Bradshaw also confessed that he would often be very anxious to the point of having anxiety attacks before playing. He was also labeled as the “Bayou Bumpkin” for his poor performance during his first years playing football for the Pittsburgh Steelers. The media was harsh on him and this greatly affected his mental health. Through his persistence and determination, Bradshaw became the most valuable player in the 1974 Super Bowl as his team, the Pittsburgh Steelers, were able to beat the Minnesota Vikings.

After his career as a professional football player, BradsHaw ventured on being a TV analyst and co-host for the National Football League. He is still battling his depression until this day. He also became a spokesperson for people with ADHD, and he has also been placed under medication for only a few years to manage it.

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Terry Bradshaw Biography

Birthdate	September 2, 1948
Hometown	Shreveport, Louisiana, United States
Parents	Novis Bradshaw & Bill Bradshaw
Siblings	Craig Bradshaw
Spouse	Tammy Bradshaw
Children	Rachel Bradshaw, Erin Bradshaw
Education	Woodlawn High School, Louisiana Tech University

Football Career Journey

In 1969, Terry Bradshaw was scouted to become a player for the 1970 National Football League Draft. At first, Terry did not ace in playing football, but it was all thanks to his former coach, Chuck Noll, that Terry was able to build that confidence he needs to showcase the talent that he already has.

Since then, he had improved and he became a very successful and well-known football player in the Super Bowl. Through his determination, his play with the Pittsburgh Steelers made them win 8 AFC Central championships.

His last football game was in 1983 after he injured his arm while in a game. It was the most painful game he had played and endured. After this, he shifted to broadcasting and television. He was hired to become a TV football analyst and co-host.

Awards & Recognitions

1978	NFL Player of the Year
1979	Super Bowl XIII MVP over the Dallas Cowboys
1989	Inducted into NFL Hall of Fame
1999	Named Most Favorite TV Sportscaster by TV Guide
2000	Emmy Awards for Sports Broadcasting