New study finds at least 24.5 percent of NFL players who died from 2016 to 2021 had CTE

Key Points:

• A recent study published by The BMJ and reported by The New York Times found that at least 24.5% of former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), highlighting significant long-term health risks associated with professional football.
• The study's findings have prompted questions about why the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has not intervened, with former OSHA officials describing the CTE rates as "astoundingly high" and "apocalyptically high," while current OSHA management stated it typically does not enforce regulations concerning professional athletes.
• The NFL and NFL Players Association acknowledged the risks of football-related brain injuries, with the NFL emphasizing ongoing efforts to make the game safer and the NFLPA calling the study a call to action for the entire football community.
• Currently, CTE can only be diagnosed post-mortem, but the potential development of reliable tests for living players could lead to early retirements and reduced participation, potentially impacting the talent pool and future of the sport.
• The coverage by The New York Times, despite ongoing discussions about a content partnership with the NFL's media partner The Athletic, demonstrates the Times' continued independent reporting on critical health issues in professional football.