His career is best remembered by many for a 2001 incident in which he ripped off an opposing player's helmet and tossed it downfield, playing a key factor in his team losing the game but also earning the respect of many Saints fans for his defense of the quarterback.

Turley has also been outspoken and involved in a number of player health issues post-retirement, particularly in regards to the neurological problems resulting from his football career (early onset Alzheimer's, CTE symptomatic, seizures, vertigo) and his use of cannabis as treatment.

[3] He played defensive end during his only season of football as a senior in 1992,[1] earning first-team all-league honors[3] and attracting athletic scholarship offers from several universities seeking to recruit him.

[1] Turley chose offensive line as it allowed him the opportunity to work with O-line coach Ed White,[5] a 17-year veteran of the NFL who played in four Super Bowls.

[2] Turley's most notable achievements came his final season in 1997, earning first-team All-American honors and being named a semifinalist for the Lombardi Award and Outland Trophy.

[8] Initially not projected as a high first round pick, Turley's draft stock rose dramatically after turning in a stellar 4.93 seconds for the 40-yard dash at the NFL combine.

[9] Turley's performance caught the eye of then-Saints coach Mike Ditka, and the team subsequently made him the first offensive linemen selected in the 1998 draft.

[19] After quarterback Aaron Brooks was tackled on a scramble to the 5-yard line, Jets safety Damien Robinson grabbed him by the facemask and bent his body backwards while twisting his head to the side.

Saints head coach Jim Haslett said he initially considered cutting Turley before seeing a clearer view of the incident on film and discussing it with quarterback Aaron Brooks, who thought his neck had been broken at the time.

[22] He was immediately signed to a 5-year, $26.5 million extension (in addition to the one year remaining on his contract),[23] making Turley the fourth-highest paid offensive lineman in the league.

[36] Turley also harbored feelings of resentment leading up to the incident, believing that the organization acted recklessly and carelessly in pushing him to return from back surgery too soon and advising him to play through initial onset of the injury during the 2003 season.

[4] After a mini-camp tryout at tight end for the Miami Dolphins,[38] Turley signed a two-year contract with the Kansas City Chiefs on June 13, 2006, where he would compete for a starting job at the right tackle position.

[48] While living in New Orleans, Turley immersed himself heavily in the local music scene where he befriended a number of musicians, including Phil Anselmo from Pantera.

[50][51] Turley continued networking and honing his musical abilities in St. Louis, jamming with local musicians and performing at a number of charity events.

[50] The song "My Soul Bleeds Black and Gold" is a tribute to the city of New Orleans and its football team,[59] which in the years since his 2003 departure Turley has expressed regret for leaving.

[59][60] Turley has toured extensively with his band, including in spring 2010 when he hit the road with Hank Williams III across the western United States.

[61] Other acts that Turley has opened for include Lynyrd Skynyrd, Eric Church, Joe Nichols, George Jones, Stephen Cochran, Jake Owen, David Allan Coe, Josh Thompson, and Kansas.

[68] In addition to The Kyle Turley Band and Delta Doom, other acts signed to Gridiron Records include The Hairbrain Scheme, Unset, and Invitro.

[73] Other symptoms that Turley has dealt with include depression, anxiety, rage issues, suicidal thoughts, migraine headaches, light sensitivity, and memory problems.

[74] Turley has been active in speaking about his personal experiences dealing with head trauma-related health issues and participating in efforts to reduce risks for current and future players.

He testified before Congress in January 2010, giving account of a severe concussion sustained during the 2003 season and the medical care he received afterwards – noting that team doctors cleared his return to the field three days after being released from the hospital.

[28] Turley was a plaintiff in a class action lawsuit filed against the NFL seeking medical benefits and compensation for former players suffering from the effects of head trauma,[75] initially resulting in a 2013 settlement of $765 million but later amended to allow for a payout expected to exceed $1 billion.

[79] Turley has agreed to donate his brain posthumously to the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University to help advance research in the area of sports-related neurological disorders.

[83] Turley also says team doctors gave him painkillers while concealing the true nature of a serious back injury in 2003,[84] in an effort to keep him on the playing field until season's end.

[98] The Food and Drug Administration advised him to cease making such claims on official materials from his CBD business or else he would be subject to legal action.

[103][104] Announcing his pledge at a November 2007 press conference,[105] Turley spoke of the debilitating football-related health problems and inadequate medical and pension benefits that many retired players face,[106] a topic that had already been the focus of two congressional hearings earlier in the year.

[106] After retiring from football, Turley continued to raise funding and awareness for Gridiron Greats through his music career, donating a portion of his album sales and concert revenues to the organization.