A new study suggests at least 25 percent of NFL players may develop chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head trauma. Researchers examined 878 former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021, testing 235 brains and finding CTE in 215 — a 24.5 percent rate. The actual prevalence could be far higher, as 643 brains were not examined.

Applied to today's 1,696 active roster players, at least 400 could develop CTE. Symptoms include memory loss, confusion, mood swings, decreased executive function, addiction, and suicide. New York Times reporter John Branch, who has covered CTE for nearly 15 years, notes the NFL's $23 billion annual revenue and cultural dominance shield it from regulatory intervention.

OSHA stated it does not take enforcement action regarding professional athletes. Branch compares the risk to Russian roulette and observes that CTE, like gun violence or climate change, is often treated as someone else's problem until it directly affects you.