As the final whistle blew on my high school football career, I couldn’t help but reflect on the incredible journey that began over a decade ago. What started when I was five as a simple way for me to get exercise and make friends in a new town evolved into a profound experience, one filled with triumphs, challenges and valuable life lessons.

Now that I’m a senior, this past season was the bittersweet culmination of 13 years of playing football. The sport has been a constant in my life, shaping me as both an athlete and an individual. From my early days as a Bulldog on the town team, running around in oversized pads, to the intensity of high school varsity games, football has taught me far more than just how to run a play or tackle an opponent. With the invaluable help of my coaches, I’ve also learned the importance of character.

“My job is to help you to become a better person, a fine young man and perhaps someday a great father,” said Michael Lyons, my high school coach, whose life lessons impacted me greatly. “Winning football games is way down on the list.”

A year ago, I thought my football journey would come to an end early. After suffering two concussions during my junior year, I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to return to the field. The physical toll the sport had taken on my body was significant, as I developed an inability to focus in school, a sensitivity to light and headaches.

The decision to step away wasn’t an easy one, but at first, it was the route I felt I had to take. However, as the off-season passed, I began to miss the camaraderie of my teammates, the adrenaline of game day and the simple joy of playing the sport I loved. Standing on the field on opening day against Morristown, hearing the roar of the band and the energy from the student section, I felt a deep sense of longing for the game I thought I’d left behind. That was when I knew I had to come back to football. Despite the risks, I changed my mind and decided to return for my senior season. I had one goal: to finish my high school football career on my own terms.

The season was filled with its fair share of ups and downs. Our team ended with a 4-5 record and suffered an early playoff exit after losing to Ramapo, but each win was meaningful, and each loss provided important lessons. The most teachable moment I experienced was from a loss to West Morris, as it conveyed the lesson of perseverance. We were down in points after the second quarter, and heading into halftime, we were also down five of our regular starters.

However, not willing to let that affect us, we continued to give everything we had, fighting to the final whistle. While we didn’t achieve the results we’d hoped for, losing 34-0, our teamwork, heart and dedication never wavered. It was during tough moments like these that I learned the most. The game didn’t always go our way, but it was during times of adversity that my teammates and I forged the strongest bonds.

One of the toughest yet most memorable moments came during our final game of the season. The trainer made the difficult decision to pull me at halftime to prioritize my health, as I was showing signs of another concussion after taking several hits to the head. Though it was hard to walk off the field for the last time, I knew it was the right choice. It was a reminder that no matter how much a player loves the game, his or her well-being must always come first. In that moment, I learned that it’s not just about winning or losing—it’s about knowing when to step back, reflect and make decisions that would benefit me in the long run. Knowing this helped me stay on track with my goal to attend college and study kinesiology.

The medical facts stated that I was not to return to play, and it fell upon my trainer, Thomas Grable, to make that decision, as I struggled to make it myself. “Only your health mattered,” he recently reminded me. “You had a long journey to be able to play this year; your coaches let you know that you’d done everything you could have [to overcome my concussion] and that not continuing was okay.”

As I look back on my 13 years of playing football, I realize that this game has given me far more than I could have ever imagined. It taught me the value of hard work, discipline and dedication. In season, I helped coach in the town’s youth football program, right after my own practices ended. So even after completing exhausting drills with my teammates, I still showed up to help spread my knowledge to eager seventh graders, sometimes not getting home until 8:30 p.m.

The dedication that I learned from football allowed me to continually show up, despite my body telling me to go home and rest. More importantly, I learned the value of being part of something larger than myself. Football is a team sport, and the importance of collaboration is one of the greatest lessons I’ll hold dear for the rest of my life. I’ll always value the brotherhood I shared with my coaches, teammates and the football community at large.

“Our coaches constantly tell you not to do anyone else’s job on the field and focus on your own,” said Dustin McFarlane, a high school teammate. “You have to put faith in the people you play alongside to go out on that field and execute the game plan. This much faith and trust create a bond that is indescribable.”

As I say my fond farewell to football, I want to thank my coaches, teammates and everyone else who supported me throughout the years. All of these people helped make this journey unforgettable. Although my time on the field has come to an end, I’ll always carry the memories of these 13 years with me. The game may be over, but its impact on my life will last a lifetime.