Study Estimates 75% of NFL Players Who Died in 2008-2023 Had CTE

3.6 · 3d ago · US

The Facts

  • A Boston University-led study published in JAMA Network Open estimates about 75% (74.5%) of former NFL players who died between 2008 and 2023 had CTE. ✓3 · NBC News, CBS News, Fox News
  • Researchers estimated that former NFL players with cognitive symptoms were about five times more likely to have their brains donated than those without, and used this to adjust for selection bias. ✓3 · NBC News, CBS News, Fox News
  • CTE can only be definitively diagnosed after death. ✓3 · NBC News, CBS News, Fox News
  • The new study builds on an August study that estimated a lower prevalence among ex-NFL players. CBS News says that study's estimate was a range of 25% to 98% for players who died 2016-2021. ✓3 · NBC News, CBS News, Fox News
  • The study estimated about 27% of the players had dementia from all causes; Fox News says it did not conclude whether CTE caused the dementia. ✓2 · NBC News, Fox News
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  • The NFL said in a statement that it 'continuously strives to make the game of football safer, including by implementing strategies to reduce concussions and head impacts.' ✓2 · NBC News, CBS News
  • Roughly 2,360 former NFL players died during the study period. ✓2 · NBC News, CBS News
  • CTE is found in less than 1% of donors to community brain banks, according to lead author Julia Gallini; NBC says about 1% of brains donated to banks in the U.S., Austria and Brazil show signs. ✓2 · CBS News, NBC News
  • Mount Sinai's Dr. Kristen Dams-O'Connor said the results should not be interpreted as representative of current living athletes, since many studied players ended their careers long ago. CBS News only
  • Dr. Jim Kelly of the University of Colorado Anschutz, who was not involved, said the figures are estimates because there were no autopsies on about five times as many players as were autopsied. NBC News only
  • Donor players died younger on average, at 67 versus almost 75 for others. Fox News only

Context

Boston University researchers combined data from the UNITE Brain Bank with national death records of former NFL players who died from 2008 to 2023. They adjusted observed CTE rates among brain donors, about 93-94%, for the greater likelihood that symptomatic players' brains are donated, producing an overall estimate of about 75%.

The authors noted the study covers only deceased players and does not predict how many living former or active players have CTE. Not everyone with CTE pathology develops symptoms. The NFL and the NFL Players Association issued statements on player safety and research.

Conflicting Reports

  • Number of donated brains: NBC News and Fox News report 396; CBS News reports 387 (362 with CTE).
  • Donor CTE rate: NBC News reports about 93%, Fox News 93.5%, CBS News 94%.
  • Study time span: NBC News and CBS News Source 4 say 15 years; CBS News Source 2 quotes Gallini saying 16 years.
  • Fox News says the study covered players aged 80 or older; other outlets do not report this age restriction and cite a donor-vs-nondonor average age at death in the 60s-70s.
  • August study: NBC News says it estimated one-quarter of players who died in a five-year span had CTE; CBS News says it estimated 25% to 98% for 2016-2021 deaths.

How the Agent Panel Scored This

Independent AI personas each scored importance 1–10; the story's score is a trimmed mean (highest and lowest votes dropped). Vote spread: 1.

4 News Editor This is a new peer-reviewed study estimate on CTE prevalence among deceased former NFL players, a significant health topic, but it is a research finding about past deaths with heavy caveats rather than a concrete event affecting many people immediately.
4 Global Affairs Analyst This is a research study estimate on CTE prevalence among deceased former NFL players, a significant health topic but a publication of findings rather than a concrete geopolitical or policy action, with limited immediate broad impact.
4 Critical Reader This is a published epidemiological study estimate with significant health relevance but no new concrete action, policy change, or verified outcome, and its estimates are heavily caveated and limited to deceased players, so it is minor-to-moderate news with limited immediate impact.
4 Science & Tech Analyst A notable peer-reviewed study on a high-profile health issue, but it is an estimate about deceased players with limited immediate impact on the general public and no new concrete policy or medical action.
3 Informed Citizen This is a research estimate about deceased former players with no new policy, regulatory, or concrete action, and it does not directly change conditions for ordinary people, so it is minor news with limited immediate impact despite the health topic.
3 Business Analyst This is a research study estimate about deceased former NFL players with no new regulatory, corporate, or market action, so its impact is limited to health and sports discourse rather than economic markets.
3 Policy Expert This is a published research study estimate, a scientific finding with no enacted law, ruling, or executive action, and its impact is mainly informational with limited immediate effect on people.

Sources (5)

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