The issue of brain injuries in football has been a contentious topic in the National Football League (NFL) for years, with hundreds of players being diagnosed posthumously with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disease linked to repeated concussions. In response to lawsuits filed by over 4,500 players, the NFL reached a $765 million settlement to provide compensation and medical treatment for those suffering from CTE, dementia, and other brain-related illnesses. However, the NFL’s handling of the settlement has been criticized for failing to adequately support affected players.
A recent investigation by The Washington Post revealed that the NFL has been using medical loopholes to avoid fulfilling its financial obligations to former players. The investigation examined 15,000 pages of documents from over 100 players seeking settlement payouts. It found that the NFL routinely denied claims and medical treatment for players suffering from CTE and dementia, saving the league hundreds of millions of dollars in the process. The report highlighted the NFL’s use of a stricter definition of dementia, which many doctors believed would fail to diagnose patients who were clearly suffering from cognitive decline.
The investigation also pointed to discrepancies in the NFL’s medical procedures. In several cases, players who had been diagnosed with dementia by their personal doctors had their claims denied by the NFL’s administrative law firm. The league’s doctors often overruled these diagnoses, attributing symptoms to other conditions like depression or sleep apnea. Tragically, at least 14 players died after being denied settlement money and care, only to have CTE confirmed posthumously through autopsy. This has led to further scrutiny of the NFL’s commitment to the welfare of its former players.
The Post’s investigation was not the first to raise concerns about the NFL’s handling of the settlement. A study published in Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy found similar issues, including a disparity in compensation between players diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease and those with similar cognitive impairments but without an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. Additionally, accusations of racial bias have surfaced, with some former players alleging that the NFL adjusted neurocognitive test scores for Black players, making them ineligible for dementia-related compensation while white players with similar conditions received payouts.
Despite these ongoing issues, the NFL has paid out over $1.2 billion to more than 1,600 players and their families, surpassing initial expectations. The league has also implemented concussion safety protocols, which are reviewed annually to ensure the most up-to-date care for players. While the NFL has taken steps to address player safety, the recent revelations about denied claims and the treatment of former players suffering from brain injuries have left a stain on the league’s reputation, particularly for the over 1,100 claimants who were denied compensation.