Today's NFL players grew up aware of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma in football. Despite knowing the risks, many continue playing, weighing long-term health concerns against career benefits. Will Fries, a 28-year-old Minnesota Vikings guard, tracks his habits—like diet, sleep, and blue-light glasses—to reduce exposure.

He was 17 when the film 'Concussion' released in 2015 and 18 when NFL executive Jeff Miller acknowledged football's link to CTE before Congress in 2016. Research shows at least one in four former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE. Suicide rates among former NFL players from 2011 to 2019 were 2.6 times higher than in NBA and MLB athletes.

A 2024 study found nearly a third of ex-players believed they had CTE, making them five times more likely to experience suicidal thoughts. Over 30 active and retired players told ESPN they are aware of CTE, a awareness lacking in earlier generations. Some use dark humor about memory lapses, like Pittsburgh Steelers safety De Shon Elliott joking about 'that CTE.' Others, like Arizona Cardinals receiver Michael Wilson, accept the risk, citing legacy and financial gain as outweighing concerns, especially for non-contact positions.

Rule changes and gear like Guardian Caps offer some reassurance, but many view brain health as an unavoidable trade-off.