Former Detroit Red Wings No. 1 Pick Joe Murphy Homeless Once Again
By James.r
Former NHL star Joe Murphy was once a story of success and incredible talent. He was drafted first overall by one of the NHL's most historic franchises, the Detroit Red Wings, and he spent 15 years in the league, appearing in 779 games and accruing 528 career points.
He earned over $13 million as a player between his rookie season in 1986 and his final game in 2001. Now, he's homeless, and he spends his nights on benches in the streets of Detroit. This is tough to see:
Joe Murphy, Red Wings' No. 1 pick, is homeless again — and refusing help https://t.co/T3iADdPEB1 via @freep @freepsports
— Jeff Seidel (@seideljeff) August 8, 2019
According to Jeff Seidel of the Detroit Free Press, Murphy has had a long battle with his own mental health issues. His friends say he turned to drugs and that addiction is at the root of many of his problems.
However, he also displays the symptoms of CTE, the brain disease that has been at the heart of the head trauma discussion in other leagues such as the NFL.
Catch up on the first Joe Murphy story here in my video about him shot and edited last September. https://t.co/2e3cx3A5Iv
— ??Eric Seals (@ericseals) August 8, 2019
Murphy's story serves as a reminder that no amount of money, fame or talent can cure mental health issues. It's easy for fans to assume that professional athletes must be happy because of all the success and financial stability they've achieved, but the rich and famous can still suffer from debilitating depression, anxiety or addiction just like everybody else.
Let's hope that Joe one day accepts the help he needs and gets back on his feet.