At least one in four former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to a study released Tuesday. The research, examining brains donated by 878 former players, found CTE in 235 of them. Researchers note the actual prevalence of CTE may be even higher. The British Medical Journal published the study, which confirms the long-held link between playing football and the degenerative brain disease. While the study establishes a significant rate of CTE among former NFL players, the extent of the condition remains unknown.
Left-leaning outlets and ESPN reported the finding as at least 25%, while Newsmax stated 1 in 4 former players had CTE. CBS News reported at least 1-in-4 ex-NFL players who died from 2016 to 2021 had CTE, noting this rate is much higher than in the general population. NPR similarly reported at least 25% of former NFL players had CTE during that time frame, emphasizing how prevalent the disease is still unknown. The New York Times also reported at least 1 in 4 NFL players get CTE, and that the actual prevalence may be much higher. Daily Maverick reported the same 25% figure.
This study adds to the growing body of evidence connecting repetitive head trauma to CTE, but does not resolve the question of how widespread the disease is among all former NFL players, as participation in the study was voluntary.
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