Bernard Robertson

One of the first benefits he took advantage of was the Brain & Body Assessment, which is designed to assess the overall health of former players removed from the NFL for less than 15 years.

“For me personally, the Brain & Body Assessment was something that got me to actually sit down with a doctor after my career instead of saying, ‘I’m fine,’ when I really wasn’t. You’re not going to have any other time in your life where you’re going to get that time with this number of specialists,” he explained. “It gave me a good baseline as to where I was when I was playing, with doctors strictly focused on what I needed to get back on the field or to stay on the field, versus what I now need to maintain the rest of my life at a healthy pace. It set the tone for me.”

Returning to his alma mater, Robertson’s assessment took place at the Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine. He emphasized his appreciation for the experience and the importance of spouses being involved.

“For someone who has an undergrad degree in medicine and has benefited by working with some of the same doctors and professionals in the program, I was blown away. I was impressed with the accommodations and how our spouses are included in the process,” he recounted. “We all know us guys aren’t going to follow through like our wives do. Sure enough, her being included helped to make sure I showed up to things and followed through with the follow-up process.”

Robertson has continued to put wellness at the forefront of life after football by participating in The Trust's Breakfast Club when it comes to New Orleans. The six-week program utilizes EXOS' resources to create long-lasting positive lifestyle habits with customized workout sessions, physical therapy, one-on-one meetings with a performance dietician, and more.

“I spent an overwhelming majority of my life either on the field, in the locker room, on the bus, or on a plane with guys who became like brothers," Robertson stated. "Breakfast Club is the closest thing we are going to get to being back in that locker room. We get up in the morning to meet our group, with most guys showing up thirty minutes early just so we can talk like we used to," he said. "We hit our workouts. We learn a little bit about nutrition and how to incorporate new tactics. Most importantly, it's a reinforcement to continually stay active, move and eat right."

Bernard Robertson urges his peers to not leave these benefits on the table. “You earned them. It’s being provided for you. Give The Trust a call…it could completely change your life."