Kyle Turley - Life After Football

Life After Football

After retiring from football, Turley moved to Nashville, Tennessee, where he set his sights on a music career. Turley started Gridiron Records with Tim Pickett. Other acts signed to Gridiron Records include Invitro, Unset, and The Hairbrain Scheme. Turley was influenced by Heavy Metal music. He loved Pantera and Slayer while growing up. Other musical influences are Johnny Cash and Hank III.

His debut album, Anger Management, was released by Gridiron Records in 2010. It was co-produced by Turley and Brandon Epps, and includes songs about his football career. He explains that the style of music "power country" is a mix of all rock sub genres and country genres. The track titled, "Anger Management," includes references to the helmet-throwing incident. Anger Management received critical praise since debuting in the top 200 Country albums on iTunes. Part of the proceeds from the album go to the Gridiron Greats Assistance Fund a non-profit, 501(c) (3) corporation, established to provide financial assistance and coordinate social services to dire need retired NFL players who are pioneers of the game and have greatly contributed to the NFL's status as the most popular sport in America.

In addition to music, Turley has been a participant in several journalistic inquiries into the NFL's treatment of concussions and overall health of its players. His experiences dealing with the ramifications of his football-related injuries, specifically concussions, were featured prominently in Malcolm Gladwell's October 2009 article in The New Yorker. Turley was also a participant in ESPN's investigation into the misuse of painkillers by former NFL players.

Turley has criticized former San Diego State coach Brady Hoke for leaving after two seasons to accept the head coaching job at Michigan. Soon after Hoke left in January 2011, Turley sent him a text message saying, "I hope you lose every damn game." The week of San Diego State's game at Michigan on September 24, Turley said that he was still angry at Hoke and hoped that San Diego State would beat Michigan so that "karma plays its role."