Recently, Brendan Schaub experienced what can only be described as a slow-motion panic attack as he discovered alarming statistics about athlete mortality rates. On the recent The Fighter and the Kid podcast, what began as a discussion about Hulk Hogan’s recent passing quickly transformed into an uncomfortable journey of self-discovery for the former UFC heavyweight.
The conversation started innocuously enough, with co-host Brian Callen noting Hogan’s extensive st**oid use over 13 years and its potential impact on heart health. Initially, Schaub pushed back against the suggestion that PEDs contributed to premature deaths in professional wrestling, insisting “I don’t know if we can chalk it up to r*ids. It’s just they do so much with their body.”
However, as the statistics began pouring in, Schaub’s defensive stance crumbled. The data painted a grim picture: over 480 professional wrestlers have died before age 50, with heart disease being a leading cause. NFL players fare little better, dying at an average age of 59.6 years compared to the general population.
When Schaub heard this number, his reaction was immediate and visceral: “That’s my age. Damn.”
The irony wasn’t lost on observers familiar with Schaub’s cavalier attitude toward unregulated s**stances. Earlier this year, he boasted about taking “blue scorpion venom” peptides and methylene blue, admitting he often doubles recommended doses without knowing which supplements actually work. His approach has always been “inject first, ask questions later” – a philosophy that suddenly seemed less amusing when confronted with mortality statistics.
As the conversation progressed through different sports, each revealing similar patterns of shortened lifespans among elite athletes, Schaub’s demeanor visibly shifted. The realization that his years of st**oid use, combined with the significant head trauma from his combat career, placed him squarely in multiple high-risk categories for premature death was clearly weighing on him.
The most telling moment came when discussing the 20% suicide rate among deceased NFL players, which Schaub immediately attributed to CTE – chronic traumatic encephalopathy. It is a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head injuries. Having absorbed countless blows during his UFC career, this statistic hit particularly close to home.
Brian Callen, perhaps recognizing his co-host’s growing anxiety, attempted to offer reassurance by pointing to Schaub’s recent clean cancer screening and generally healthy lifestyle. Yet even these comforting words couldn’t mask the elephant in the room: Schaub’s extensive history with both PEDs and head trauma puts him at significant risk.
What made this moment particularly poignant was watching someone who has spent years bragging about experimental s**stances and risky behavior suddenly confront the potential consequences.
At 42, with a wife and three children, Schaub appeared to be processing for the first time that his pursuit of physical enhancement and career achievements may have come at the ultimate cost.
The culture of casual PED use, often glamorized by podcasters and influencers, carries real consequences that extend far beyond temporary performance gains.
