Craig Nall, the Alexandria native and former LSU quarterback who set regular-season records for passing yardage (2,022) and completions (166) in his only season at Northwestern State in 2001, is trying to recover from heart-piercing blows two years ago that involved three deaths in his family within 15 days.
The 44-year-old Nall, who backed up Brett Favre for five NFL seasons with the Green Bay Packers, is also trying to recover from a divorce.
And Nall, who several years ago started QB1 Sports, a venue offering one-on-one coaching from a former NFL quarterback, is also trying to recover from alcoholism.
He’s making progress on all fronts.
Craig’s father, Malcolm, died of a heart attack two years ago, and within 15 days, an uncle and a sister-in-law died. “That was pretty tough for the family,” Craig understated. “My dad was my best friend, my biggest fan.”
About three times a year he leaves his home in McKinney, Texas, to visit his mom, Susie, in Alexandria. He visits often on the phone with her and describes her as “a strong woman of faith,” adding, “and we’re kind of getting through things together.”
Divorce reared its ugly head in Craig’s life after 17 ½ years of marriage in October of 2022. “Amanda and I didn’t give our two sons a great example of what love is,” he said, trying to explain they grew apart through financial difficulties. Neither was making much money in their respective jobs at the time – when he was in commercial real estate and brokerage — and his alcoholism was part of the problem, he said. “We didn’t get along. There was no infidelity, but we argued a lot.”
Now, he says, he has a girlfriend, Jessica, whom he met on St. Patrick’s Day last year. “We get along so well, we have fun doing anything together. Within 10 minutes of meeting her, he said, she persuaded him to go with her and get a tattoo, admitting it sounds crazy. “I couldn’t tell her no.” He said he got the Taurus sign above his right shoulder since he and both of his teenage sons, Matthew, a saxophone wizard, and Mason, a good athlete, all were born under that astrological sign. Mason, incidentally, who’ll turn 14 in two weeks, shares the same April 21 birthday with Craig.
Jessica, he said, has a serious side, too, and “has certain expectations of me, and I don’t want to screw this up.” They are not engaged, although they have talked about it. “I know Dad would love Jessica.”
As for the alcoholism, Craig said, he’s dealt with it in varying degrees since college but more so during his time in the NFL, “where we worked hard but we partied hard, too.” He said while most people who drink can quit after a couple, he found he always wanted more. It peaked last July, around the same time he had a serious bout with Covid, when his blood pressure soared to a dangerous 200 over 130.
“One night I left the house to go to the store to get something to drink,” he said in a phone interview Monday. “I had this routine where I’d do that and cruise around, usually in the neighborhood. I ended up on a highway and out of gas. I had no idea how I got there. I went into a treatment center in the first week of August.
“I made a phone call to a friend, who has over five years of sobriety,” Craig continued. “I wanted to get help. He got me booked to a treatment center.”
The treatment center’s program focused largely on faith, he said, and he said he found help from prayer. “I let Him take the wheel. I let Him guide me. I pray all the time. I’m trying to be obedient to Him, to be of service to Him.”
He said he learned alcoholism is not a behavioral thing but a disease. “Some people like me have allergic reactions to alcohol, where it’s an addictive problem. You’ve got to want to quit. I needed help. I wanted to set a better example for the boys. Probably within two months, (the urge to drink) was gone.”
He credits God for being 8 ½ months sober and gives Him thanks daily.
He’s now finding satisfaction in a new job as a registered representative in the oil and gas business with the SEC in 28 states, but he still attends AA meetings, and finds himself counselling others in his group who are struggling with not only addiction but with faith.
“There’s a joy of knowing God is in control,” he said. “I’m trying to live out His will.”
The inspiration for this column was from a recent “Next on the Tee” podcast in which Nall was the guest of Chris Mascaro of Atlanta. It is available on open.spotify.com.