Study: Nearly 25% of Deceased NFL Players Had CTE

A new analysis published in The BMJ and highlighted by The New York Times shows that at least 24.5 percent of former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 were found to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Out of 878 deaths during that six‑year window, researchers confirmed the disease in 215 brains, while the remaining 663 cases were not examined for CTE, suggesting the true prevalence could be considerably higher.

Because CTE can only be diagnosed after death, the reported figure is almost certainly a floor rather than a ceiling. The large number of untested brains means many additional former athletes may have been living with the condition without ever being counted, a point that underscores how little is still known about the long‑term neurological toll of repeated head impacts in professional football.

The findings have reignited debate over whether workplace‑safety regulators should treat the NFL like other high‑risk industries. Former heads of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration described the CTE rate as "astoundingly high" and even "apocalyptically high," arguing that such a hazard would trigger enforcement in any conventional workplace. Current OSHA leadership, however, maintains that the agency generally does not pursue enforcement actions against professional athletes.

Both the league and the players’ union responded to the study. The NFL emphasized its ongoing efforts to reduce concussions and head impacts, pointing to expanded medical resources and rule changes aimed at player safety. The NFL Players Association called the research a sobering reminder of the real risks players face and urged the entire football ecosystem — from youth leagues to the professional level — to treat the data as a call to action.

The conversation extends beyond the gridiron. Comparisons with occupations such as construction, mining, and professional boxing illustrate that repetitive brain trauma is a recognized occupational hazard elsewhere, often accompanied by stricter monitoring and compensation frameworks. Meanwhile, scientists are racing to develop reliable, non‑invasive tests that could detect CTE in living individuals, a breakthrough that would transform how athletes, teams, and regulators manage brain health in the future.