Steve McMichael's family announces that he had stage 3 CTE
NBC Sports • • sports
Key Points:
- The Concussion & CTE Foundation announced that Hall of Fame defensive tackle Steve McMichael was diagnosed posthumously with stage 3 CTE, highlighting the ongoing concern about brain injuries in football.
- McMichael’s wife emphasized the connection between CTE and ALS, noting that many NFL players develop ALS during life and are diagnosed with CTE after death, and donated his brain to support research on this link.
- Despite NFL rule changes since 2009 aimed at reducing concussions, it remains unclear if these measures have effectively decreased CTE incidence, especially given the frequent subconcussive impacts players endure.
- Studies indicate NFL players are over four times more likely to develop ALS compared to the general male population, but the long-term effects of recent safety protocols are still unknown.
- The future of football may hinge on developing reliable CTE tests for living players, which could lead to significant changes in the sport or player decisions regarding participation.
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