The NFL is working to ensure player safety, particularly concerning head injuries. The connection between chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and former professional football players has spurred ongoing discussions about its impact on current and future players.
New research, published in The BMJ, uncovered concerning finds from a six-year study. The study examined 878 former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021, ranging from their 20s to 80s. At least 215 of these players had some stage of CTE. This equates to 24.5% of the players studied, though the actual number may be higher since 643 other brains were not examined.
If today’s NFL roster of 1,696 active players were examined under these conditions, approximately 415 could be diagnosed with CTE.
CTE, a degenerative brain disease, is linked to repeated head impacts and severe trauma. Symptoms include memory loss, mood swings, and erratic behavior. Initially identified in boxers, CTE has become associated with football due to repeated head impacts in every game. The disease is also present in hockey, rugby, and other sports.
The issue gained public attention when players like Junior Seau, Mike Webster, and Frank Gifford were diagnosed posthumously. Dr. Bennet Omalu’s examination of Webster’s brain marked the first CTE diagnosis in an NFL player, highlighting a concussion crisis.
Dr. Julian Bailes, a key figure in CTE research and portrayed in the film “Concussion,” emphasizes urgent action. He states, “We need to apply the same urgency to preventing head impacts as we have to understanding CTE.” Bailes, a leading expert with over 300 publications, has consulted for the NFL Players Association, NCAA, and Pop Warner Football.
According to Dr. Bailes, advancing rules, training, equipment, and brain protection strategies is crucial. He states, “The next frontier in athlete safety must be proactive brain protection.” Eliminating repeated head impacts could prevent CTE, but it would fundamentally change professional football.
The NFL is committed to making football safer through strategies to reduce concussions and head impacts. The league told The Athletic, “The NFL remains committed to ensuring that the NFL community has access to robust resources to enhance their physical and mental well-being.” The NFL Players Association echoed this sentiment, calling for action across the football ecosystem.
In 2025, there were 168 documented in-game concussions, a 30% increase from 2024. A total of 538 evaluations and 26 medical timeouts occurred.