FTS is a deep look into athletes’ experiences when retiring from competition. We are specifically targeting football players for the initial phase of this study. Based on the 5-step Conceptual Model of Athlete Retirement, we are investigating the circumstances of an athlete’s retirement, factors that influence an athlete’s adaptation to retirement; available resources to support athlete’s retirement adaptation; the quality of adaptation to retirement; and interventions for athletes having trouble with retirement. This study will be one of the first to comprehensively examine what athletes go through as they cope with leaving their sport, what resources they utilize, how successful they’ve been in adapting to life after the game, and what characteristics help separate athletes who thrive from those who struggle.