Study: One in Four Former NFL Players Showed Signs of CTE
A study published in the British Medical Journal examined 878 former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021, finding that at least 215 of them had chronic traumatic encephalopathy. Among 338 players who donated their brains for examination, 93.2% were diagnosed with CTE. Researchers caution the true rate may be higher because many brains were not analyzed.
The study’s core finding rests on a narrow slice of the deceased player pool: only 235 of 878 brains from 2016–2021 were examined, yet 215 showed CTE. Because many brains were never analyzed, the authors stress that 24.5% is a floor, not a ceiling—the true figure could approach 97% if all cases were confirmed. A separate, broader sample of 338 donors from 2008–2021 yielded a 93.2% diagnosis rate, echoing earlier Boston University work that found CTE in 345 of 376 former players.
Researchers remain unable to detect CTE in living people, which complicates prevention and treatment. The recent participation of ex-quarterback Matt Hasselbeck in Boston University scanning trials highlights ongoing efforts to develop a clinical diagnostic tool, though no breakthrough has been announced.
This study could reshape public perception of football’s long-term risks, influencing parents’ decisions about youth participation and prompting leagues to revisit safety protocols. Families of former players may face heightened anxiety about cognitive decline, while players themselves might seek earlier neurological assessments. The wide gap between the minimum and maximum prevalence estimates underscores uncertainty, which could fuel both cautionary advocacy and defensive responses from the NFL. Ultimately, the findings may accelerate research funding and legal scrutiny, but their societal weight depends on how effectively they translate into actionable medical guidance.