From Gridiron to Stage: Marcus Lattimore's Poetic Transformation
In a recent interview with FOX 12 Oregon, Marcus Lattimore opened up about his remarkable evolution from a promising football star to a celebrated spoken-word poet in Portland. Football was deeply ingrained in his family heritage, with his brother, father, and uncle all having played the sport. "It's just a part of our culture," Lattimore remarked, noting the expectations placed upon him to follow in their footsteps.
A Stellar College Career Marred by Devastating Injuries
At the University of South Carolina, Lattimore emerged as a standout running back, dazzling fans with his talent. However, as he prepared to enter the NFL, he encountered a harsh reality of the sport. In 2011, while playing against the Mississippi State Bulldogs, he tore a ligament in his knee, forcing him to miss the rest of the season. Demonstrating incredible resilience, he made a triumphant comeback the following year, only to suffer a catastrophic injury to his right knee during a game against the Tennessee Volunteers.
This injury resulted in a dislocated knee, with every ligament torn and nerve damage, necessitating surgical intervention. Despite this setback, Lattimore declared himself eligible for the NFL a month later and was selected by the San Francisco 49ers in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft. He was placed on the reserve/non-football injury list in August 2013, beginning a redshirt season dedicated to recovery.
The Struggle and Decision to Retire
During his recovery, Lattimore faced ongoing challenges. "I heard another pop in my knee, in that same knee where I tore all the ligaments, and I didn't know what it was, but I knew it was bad," he recalled. He persisted through rehabilitation, but eventually reached a breaking point. "I tried, but I can't try anymore, I'm done," he told head athletic trainer Jeff Ferguson. In 2014, he officially retired from the NFL.
Post-retirement, Lattimore transitioned into coaching roles, serving as a running backs coach and head coach at Heathwood Hall Episcopal School in Columbia from 2016 to 2017, followed by a position as director of player development at South Carolina from 2018 to 2020. In 2020, he took on roles as a running backs coach and life coach at Lewis & Clark College.
Finding Solace and Success in Poetry
In 2020, seeking a fresh start, Lattimore moved to Portland, a city that evoked memories of football. There, he discovered poetry open mics, which became a turning point in his life. "I started going to these open mics, and people are doing the same things I've been doing in private, but they're doing it on the mic, and they're saying it out loud, and I'm like it feels really good when I leave these open mics," he shared.
Poetry served as therapeutic healing for the parts of himself lost to football, evolving into a new passion and dream. A decade after his injuries, Lattimore now performs spoken-word poetry in Portland and was crowned the 2024 Spoken Word Grand Slam Champion in Oregon. His story underscores that even after devastating football injuries, new opportunities for fulfillment and comfort can arise.
Lattimore's journey is a powerful testament to resilience, mental health awareness, and the pursuit of new dreams beyond sports.
