A former LSU Tigers running back, Clyde Edwards-Helaire, once had a bright future in football but has since stepped away from the game. Edwards-Helaire, who was a semifinalist for the Doak Walker Award and a key player on LSU’s 2019 College Football National Championship team, experienced a tragic incident during college that resulted in a man’s death. This event profoundly impacted his career, as he now struggles with severe post-traumatic stress disorder.
Former LSU Tigers Running Back Clyde Edwards-Helaire Unfortunate Victim of Attempted Robbery
During the 2018 college football season, Sony sponsored a bowl game, as they do each year, and the LSU Tigers participated in the Fiesta Bowl, which was sponsored by Sony. As part of the sponsorship, each player received a PlayStation gaming console. Some players, already owning consoles, chose to sell their old ones after receiving the gift.
Among those who decided to sell his old console was Clyde Edwards-Helaire, a standout running back for the LSU Tigers. Edwards-Helaire, along with LSU linebacker Jared Small, arranged to sell the console to an 18-year-old from Orlando, Florida, where the bowl game was being held. When the 18-year-old entered their vehicle, he pulled out a handgun instead of the expected money, attempting to rob the players of their cash and the console.
A struggle ensued, though the details remain hazy for Edwards-Helaire and Small. During the altercation, the 18-year-old was shot and killed. It remains unclear who fired the fatal shot or if one of the LSU players had a second weapon. Both athletes were released without facing charges and were not suspended by the LSU Tigers.
Edwards-Helaire only recently felt comfortable sharing his struggles with the incident. As the son of a combat veteran, he found solace in his father’s own experiences with trauma, which encouraged him to open up. Edwards-Helaire has since announced a leave of absence from the Kansas City Chiefs, with no set return date.
Despite Tragic Shooting, LSU Tigers Football Accepted Edwards-Helaire Back
After the shooting incident, speculation quickly arose, with many assuming Clyde Edwards-Helaire was involved in illegal activities or was in a dangerous area. However, the reality was far different; he was simply trying to sell an extra gaming console. Despite this, media outlets were quick to jump to conclusions, with some predicting his career was over before it even began.
Edwards-Helaire acknowledges that returning to the field was not easy, but he made a surprising comeback just two weeks later. On the field, he found solace and was able to temporarily set aside the trauma of the incident. However, despite his deep passion for football, he admitted that it became increasingly difficult to maintain his focus on the game.
Recently, Edwards-Helaire spoke publicly about the incident during his time with the LSU Tigers, reflecting on how it affected him. He said, “You feel like your whole life is as a football player or everything is geared towards this, but it is so much more… there are so many things that come with a person.” He also shared that he has been experiencing growing anxiety, making it harder for him to concentrate on football.
As a result, Edwards-Helaire announced that he would take a break from the sport to focus on his mental health and work through the lingering effects of the incident. Both the Kansas City Chiefs and LSU Tigers have shown their support during this challenging time. May Edwards-Helaire and his family find peace and healing during this period of reflection.
