The Houston Texans have made changes to their approach to players’ mental health, adding a full-time therapist to their staff and daily operations. Players now have regular access to the clinician, similar to visits to the training room, amid increased attention on mental health in the NFL following several recent player deaths.
Texans add a full-time clinician
Head coach DeMeco Ryans and general manager Nick Caserio have added Dr. Candice Williams to the Texans’ staff as director of mental wellness and performance, providing a licensed clinician on-site full-time, according to Houston Texans. Players have begun using the resource, with receiver Christian Kirk noting that their brief discussions have helped him adjust his mindset regarding injuries and fan feedback.
A leaguewide safety net
Houston’s initiative is part of a broader effort that began in 2019, when the NFL and NFLPA introduced a joint behavioral health agreement. Under the agreement, each team is required to employ a licensed behavioral health clinician, develop a mental health emergency action plan, and provide baseline on-site coverage. The framework specifies approximately 8 to 12 hours per week of clinician availability, according to the NFL. Nationally, about 23 percent of adults reported experiencing a mental illness in the past year in 2022, and many do not receive care from a specialist.
A sharper focus after recent tragedies
Recent high-profile deaths have increased attention on mental health and crisis response in the NFL. Former running back Doug Martin died while in police custody, and Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland died in what authorities have classified as a suicide, raising questions about the identification of warning signs and available support for players in crisis. Coverage from outlets including The Guardian has noted that these cases have intensified discussions on mental health within team front offices.
Who Is Dr. Candice Williams?
Williams brings experience in both college and professional sports. She has worked with the NFL Players Association, supported athletes at Ohio State, and served as Director of Mind Health and Wellness for the Boston Celtics, as per TrueSport. Teams note that a sports-specific background can help a clinician communicate effectively in the locker room and build trust in an environment where discussions of mental health are often limited.
Stigma and cultural barriers
Despite improved access, stigma around mental health remains a concern, particularly for Black players, who comprise a majority of NFL rosters. Kent State psychologist Dr. Angela Neal-Barnett, who studies anxiety in African American communities, cited faith traditions and a lack of diverse clinicians as factors that may discourage some individuals from seeking help, as reported by Kent State. These factors can influence how players perceive therapy, even when services are readily available on-site.
How players use the service
Inside the Texans facility, players are using mental health support in various ways, including brief mindset check-ins and referrals for longer-term care following injuries or personal challenges. Receiver Christian Kirk noted that Williams helped him reframe a hamstring issue, a shift in perspective that is significant given his history of a season-ending groin injury during the first play of a December 2023 Monday Night Football game with the Jaguars, as noted by NBC Sports.
What to watch
Williams met with the Texans roster near the end of training camp and provided one-on-one sessions, as part of a broader program that also includes a contracted team psychiatrist, according to the Houston Chronicle. The approach raises questions about whether other teams will adopt similar practices, fully integrating clinicians into daily operations, or maintain the leaguewide policy primarily as a baseline requirement.
