Albert Haynesworth's career completely bottomed out in 2011. Three years later, he nearly lost his life.
In an interview with 104.5 The Zone in Nashville on Thursday, Haynesworth revealed that he almost died in November 2014 due to two brain aneurysms. He added that he deals with what sounds like severe memory issues. The interview was transcribed by ESPN and the relevant portions have been added below.
In a word, it's scary.
"Nobody really knows, I almost died," Haynesworth said. "I had two brain aneurysms that were nearly rupturing. I went and talked to my doctor in Florida, and he was like, 'Man, your blood pressure is through the roof. I'm going to admit you.' They did a lot of tests and found the aneurysm that was rupturing at that point."
Haynesworth ended up spending 11 days in intensive care at a hospital.
As for Hayneworth's memory issues, they're severe enough that he sometimes forgets how to sign his name.
"I've been OK. It's really hard to remember, and I'm not saying that just because of the concussion thing," Haynesworth said. "A lot of things, I just can't remember. I don't feel as sharp as I used to as far as problem-solving and answering questions and things.
"It sounds crazy, but sometimes, writing my own name, I kind of forget the signature of how I normally write. Or sending long texts, my words get backwards. It's crazy, but hopefully as time goes on, I get better."
According to Haynesworth, doctors do not know if the exact cause of his brain problems is football.
"They can't say. They said I could have had it, but they said football definitely didn't help. I don't really know. I have no idea. I'm not a doctor," Haynesworth said. "I don't want to blame it on football, and I don't want to say, 'Hey, it didn't have anything to do with it.' "
As a member of the Titans at the beginning of his career, which began in 2002, Haynesworth emerged as a top defensive tackle. But, after signing a lucractive deal with the Redskins in 2009, his play declined. After spending the 2011 season with the Patriots and Buccaneers, he was out of the league altogether.
In his career, Haynesworth recorded 30.5 sacks and 347 combined tackles.
