One In Four Former NFL Players Already Showing CTE and Doctors Say It’s Getting Worse

A new study just dropped some seriously heavy news about former professional football players: a whopping at least 25% of the more than 800 brains they looked at showed signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, that neurological disease we all know is likely caused by repeated hits to the head. And get this: the lead researcher believes the actual number of former NFL athletes dealing with brain disease is probably even higher. That’s a gut punch, right?

The Numbers Are Hard To Ignore

This isn’t just some small sample, either. We’re talking about over 800 brains, with a quarter of them already showing signs of CTE. It’s tough to hear, especially when we’re out there on Sundays, rooting hard, and every time a player takes a hit, we just hope they bounce right back up. The science keeps telling us this disease is linked to those impacts, and knowing the real numbers could be even worse? That’s a tough pill for anyone who loves this game.

A Culture Shift, But The Stakes Are Still Sky-High

Good news is, there’s a culture shift happening. Dr. Daniel Cherik with Northside Hospital’s concussion program told Channel 2 Action News that awareness is growing. He said, “We can treat this injury much better than we did in the past. We have physical therapy and things that we can do to help people get better sooner.” That’s a huge step. But the Sports Neuropsychologist for Northside Sports Medicine laid out the most critical factor for brain health for parents and athletes: “The most important thing is if an injury happens, we need to make sure they’re recovered before we put them back in any contact situation.” Schools in Georgia are even using Guardian Caps, those padded helmet covers, to help cushion against impact as part of their concussion protocols. It shows people are paying attention.

This whole situation reminds us what’s really at stake every time a player steps onto the field. We’ve got to keep pushing for better safety, better protocols, and making sure our athletes are truly ready before they return. It’s the least we can do for the guys who give their all.

This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.

Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.