Study shows high brain disease rate in dead NFL players
New research reveals 97.7% of NFL players who died between 2016-2021 showed signs of brain disease related to repeated head impacts.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- New study shows 97.7% of former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had risks of CTE brain disease.
- Researchers examined 878 former players and found CTE in 215 of 235 donated brains.
- Cumulative head impacts started from youth, high school, and collegiate levels of the sport.
- The NFL states it remains committed to enhancing player safety and reducing head impacts.
Up to 97.7% of National Football League players who passed away between 2016 and 2021 may have suffered from degenerative brain disease linked to repeated blows to the head, according to a recent study. Researchers analyzed 878 former players who died during that timeframe, utilizing data from individuals who participated in health studies.
Out of that group, 235 former players had donated their brains for scientific research. Upon examination, 215 of those brains were found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain condition that can only be definitively diagnosed post-mortem. The study, published in the British Medical Journal, also highlighted that dementia was widespread among the brain donors.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
"These findings indicate that NFL players have a higher prevalence of CTE at death than has been previously shown in multiple community based studies."
Researchers
The research team emphasized that these results demonstrate a higher prevalence of CTE among deceased NFL players than previous community-based studies indicated. They have strongly urged the NFL to implement prevention strategies designed to minimize repetitive head impacts across every tier of the sport.
Researchers noted that the accumulated hits occurred at the collegiate, high school, and often youth levels, accumulating into a heightened long-term risk. Meanwhile, an NFL spokesperson responded that the league continuously strives to make football safer through strategies aimed at reducing concussions and head impacts, while offering resources to support players' physical and mental health.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) has remained a central safety concern in American football for decades. Following a major class-action lawsuit, the NFL agreed to a historic $1 billion settlement with thousands of former players in 2016, alongside earlier rules restricting contact practices implemented in 2011. Despite ongoing safety reforms, balancing athletic intensity with long-term neurological protection remains an ongoing challenge for contact sports.
Source: BBC World
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