Charles Haley is a five-time Super Bowl winner. He's a Hall of Famer and two-time All-Pro. He also is bipolar.
Haley, who played eight seasons with the 49ers and has 100.5 career sacks, is a part of NBC Sports' documentary "HEADSTRONG: Mental Health and Sports."
"I have a mental illness," Haley says in the documentary. "I'm bipolar. I am bipolar. Every day, I have to tell myself that I'm bipolar. And I have to tell myself, 'OK, you have to look at people in the mouth and listen,' because a lot of times when I was in that manic or depressed state, I only heard bits and pieces of what you said, and most of it was negative."
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For years, Haley didn't understand his mental illness. He didn't even know he had a mental illness. The former 49ers and Cowboys great had an uncontrollable rage that hurt his marriage, his first 49ers tenure and much more.
But now, Haley is open about his mental illness and is tackling it head on.
"Today, because I take my medicine, I am able to process information and make a decision before I act," Haley said. "I never had that. I would attack you before you would even open your mouth."
Haley says "silence is a killer" and pushes for communication and today's players in the NFL to seek help. His battle with bipolar disease and openness with mental illness will be discussed during Monday night's edition of 49ers Pregame Live as well as 49ers Postgame Live on NBC Sports Bay Area before and after San Francisco plays the Seattle Seahawks on "Monday Night Football."
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You can watch all of the "HEADSTRONG: Mental Health and Sports" vignettes right here. The full documentary will be playing all month on NBC Sports Bay Area and NBC Sports California.
Check our channel listings page for times and dates.