NFLPA Urges Vigilance After Study Finds 1 in 4 Former NFL Players Died With CTE
Updated
Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 25
NFLPA Urges Vigilance After Study Finds 1 in 4 Former NFL Players Died With CTE
3 articles · Updated · USA TODAY · Aug 25
Summary
878 former NFL player deaths from 2016-21 were analyzed, and the NFLPA responded by emailing active and former players that the findings demand vigilance, medical evaluation and more research.
231 donated brains underpinned the study, with 91.4% showing CTE, reinforcing researchers' view that the disease may be more common among NFL players than previously understood.
The union told players and families that symptoms linked to CTE can overlap with other treatable conditions, highlighted available care resources, and said early intervention can help.
Over the next 2 weeks, the NFLPA plans calls with medical experts as it frames the findings as a broader call to action for football to expand research, treatment and long-term support.
If many symptoms mimicking CTE are actually treatable, are former athletes suffering in silence when medical intervention could save their cognitive health?
With up to 97 percent of deceased players potentially suffering from CTE, could these hidden brain injuries ultimately force drastic rule changes?
Since repetitive impacts rather than just concussions drive brain disease, is it even possible to make the game of football truly safe?
24.5% of Deceased NFL Players Had CTE: Landmark 2026 BMJ Study Sparks Urgent Calls for Reform
Overview
A major August 2026 BMJ study found that at least 24.5% of deceased NFL players had CTE, linking the disease to cumulative, repetitive head impacts that cause tau protein buildup and brain cell damage. This leads to memory loss, personality changes, and, in advanced cases, a much higher risk of dementia. The findings triggered urgent action from the NFLPA and sparked public fear, sometimes causing hopelessness among former players. As parents become more aware of these dangers, youth tackle football participation is dropping, especially among wealthier families, while the sport increasingly relies on lower-income youth, highlighting deep cultural and legal challenges for football’s future.