Researchers examining the brains of deceased former NFL players have found signs of degenerative brain disease at rates higher than previously documented, according to a study published in the medical journal JAMA Neurology.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive advocates and player safety groups say the findings underscore the need for fundamental changes to how football is played and governed. Some on the left have called for stricter liability standards for leagues and teams, arguing that organizations profiting from high-contact sports bear responsibility for long-term health consequences borne by players.
Advocates point to research like this as evidence supporting policies such as delaying tackle football until high school age, expanding healthcare coverage for retired athletes experiencing cognitive difficulties, and increasing funding for neurological research. Former players and their families have cited such studies in pushing for improved safety measures and greater support for retired athletes.
Some progressive voices have also called for increased scrutiny of how professional sports leagues manage player health risks, arguing that voluntary protocols are insufficient when long-term brain damage is at stake.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservatives and defenders of the sport emphasize that players knowingly accept certain risks by choosing to compete in contact sports. Many on the right argue that adults should retain the freedom to make their own choices about career paths, including professional football, without excessive government intervention or league regulation.
The NFL has pointed to its investment in concussion protocols, rule changes aimed at reducing dangerous hits, and a $100 million initiative toward medical research as evidence of meaningful steps taken to protect players. Defenders argue that the league has actively worked to improve player safety while preserving the sport's competitive nature.
Some conservative commentators have cautioned against overstating findings from brain donation studies, noting that families who suspected their loved ones suffered from brain injuries may have been more likely to donate for study, potentially skewing results toward higher disease rates.
What the Numbers Show
The research team, led by Dr. Ann McKee at the VA Boston Healthcare System and Boston University, analyzed brain tissue from 152 former professional football players who donated their brains for scientific study after death.
Of those examined, 127 showed evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative neurological condition linked to repeated head impacts.
The study found CTE in 99 percent of the former NFL players whose brains were examined—higher than rates reported in earlier, smaller studies. Researchers noted that this sample may not represent all professional football players, as families who suspected their loved ones suffered from brain injuries may have been more likely to donate for study.
CTE can only be diagnosed definitively after death through examination of brain tissue. The condition is associated with memory loss, mood disorders, behavioral changes, and cognitive decline.
The Bottom Line
This study reinforces concerns about the neurological risks associated with professional football while acknowledging limitations inherent in post-mortem brain donation research. Questions remain about how representative these findings are of all former NFL players, and researchers continue studying ways to detect CTE in living patients.