Kansas City Chiefs running back Clyde Edwards-Helaire is venturing into a new chapter off the field, dedicating this season to a pursuit beyond football. Amidst evading defenders, Edwards-Helaire is immersing himself in nursing studies, showcasing a commitment to caring for others.
This revelation has fans wondering about the motivations driving Edwards-Helaire to embrace nursing while actively engaging in the NFL.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire discloses reason for attending medical school
Kansas City Chiefs’ RB Clyde Edwards-Helaire recently disclosed his decision to attend medical school, citing initial challenges at LSU, where combining nursing school in New Orleans with football proved difficult.
“I wasn’t able to do the nursing things because, being at LSU, the nursing school and playing football, I would have to do LSU in New Orleans and some other stuff, and I was not necessarily planning on leaving early but had the opportunity to,” Edwards-Helaire said.
The RB shared that he found significance in the medical field due to his mother’s nursing profession and his sister’s muscular dystrophy.
“I just feel like people are doing it for the love of the money, not you know, what’s actually going on with everything in the medical field and nursing. So it’s close to my heart.”
Clyde Edwards-Helaire emphasized that nursing has been a lifelong pursuit since he started college in 2019, motivated by his family background and a genuine passion for the medical field.
“It’s enjoyable because it kind of feels like college. Just running things, there’s nothing to really do out here, snowing, so I’m not doing anything else but leaving work and going to do school stuff. Shout out to my fiancée. She’s helping me out with the scheduling ordeal. All of that’s been a headache.”
During a press interaction, the 24-year-old expressed confidence in knowing what he wants to do for the rest of his life and voiced concern about some entering the medical field solely for financial gain rather than a true understanding of its intricacies.
“I know, for my profession, what I want to do for the rest of my life. If y’all need some shots or an IV, holler at ya boy.”
As Edwards-Helaire enters his fourth NFL season with the Chiefs, who won a playoff game in extreme weather conditions, functioning mostly as a backup, he is poised to hit free agency after the team declined his fifth-year option.
Interestingly, his decision to pursue a medical career aligns with the footsteps of former Chiefs player Laurent Duvernay-Tardif, who stepped away from football in 2022 to pursue residency after graduating from medical school.
Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s family
Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s family includes his father, Clyde Edwards Sr., his mother, Tonge Helaire, and his siblings, Maddee Helaire (younger half-sister) and Shannon Helaire (stepfather).
Originally known as Clyde Edwards, he opted to legally change his name to Clyde Edwards-Helaire at the age of 14. This decision was made as a sign of respect, keeping the last name Edwards to honor his biological father and adding Helaire to recognize the contribution of his stepfather, Shannon Helaire, who had been in his life since infancy.
In an interview, Clyde Edwards-Helaire explained that the addition of the last name was motivated by respect for his stepfather.
Clyde Edwards and Tonge Helaire, while once married, are no longer together. Despite the separation, they remain supportive of Clyde Edwards-Helaire’s career.
Within the family, Clyde Edwards-Helaire holds the position of the eldest. His younger half-sister is named Maddee Helaire. As of now, Clyde Edwards-Helaire is unmarried. He is currently in a relationship with Desiree Jones.
The family has deliberately maintained a private life, sharing minimal information about their personal affairs. As the RB engages in new ventures in his life, fans are eagerly anticipating his next move.
