Which NFL player has autism?

Joe Barksdale: Breaking Barriers on the Field and Beyond

Joe Barksdale isn’t just a former NFL offensive tackle—he’s a trailblazer in redefining what it means to be autistic and unapologetically oneself. After playing nine seasons in the league, including stints with the St. Louis Rams and Los Angeles Chargers, Barksdale stepped into a new role: advocate, artist, and voice for neurodiversity.

While many athletes keep personal challenges private, Joe chose transparency. He’s spoken openly about receiving an autism diagnosis later in life—a revelation that reshaped how he understood himself. “It wasn’t a limitation,” he’s said, “it was an explanation.” His journey reflects a growing awareness that autism doesn’t fit a single mold, especially for adults who’ve navigated life without a diagnosis.

Now, Joe brings that same introspection to fatherhood. In a heartfelt episode of Adulting on the Spectrum, hosted by Andrew Komarow and Eileen Lamb, he shares what it’s like raising kids while embracing his own neurodivergent identity. The conversation is candid, warm, and deeply human—touching on emotional regulation, communication, and the quiet joys of being different in a world built for conformity.

But football isn’t his only outlet. Joe is also a singer, songwriter, and music producer, using art to express what words alone can’t. His music, often introspective and layered, mirrors his journey—resilient, reflective, and full of soul.

In a culture that often equates strength with silence, Joe Barksdale stands apart. He’s proof that vulnerability isn’t weakness—it’s wisdom. And for autistic adults and parents everywhere, his story offers something rare: representation not as a stereotype, but as a full, complex person living loudly, authentically, and on his own terms.