Playing in the NFL comes with its own set of risks, and CTE is one of them. The abbreviation stands for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a progressive, degenerative brain disease found in people with a history of repeated head impacts.

A recent study estimated that 74.5% of former NFL players who died from 2008 to 2023 had CTE neuropathology, after researchers adjusted for selection bias among brain donors.

One of the biggest challenges with this disease is that it can only be diagnosed after death. Individuals with a history of repeated concussions and high-impact hits are at risk of developing CTE, which can continue to progress years after players retire. However, a former NFL running back has now offered to donate his brain for research.

Two-Time Super Bowl Champ Offers to Donate His Brain for CTE Study

The research was conducted by scientists from Boston University, Mass General Brigham, and the Concussion & CTE Foundation. The researchers analyzed records from 2,362 former NFL players who died over a 16-year period, from 2008 through 2023.

Of that sample, 396 had voluntarily donated their brains for research, while the rest were non-donors. The researchers said more work is needed to determine CTE prevalence among people who played football at lower levels, including high school and college.

“I know a lot of guys who have gone through this. You hear all the stories from their families and the way they have to deal with it, how it affects their families. So, I mean, it’s tough,” former running back LeSean McCoy said on Thursday’s episode of the “Speakeasy” podcast.

“You know, when God calls me up there to hang out with him in heaven, I’m going. But, I’m going to donate my brain, though. Because I just want to see, like, if it can help figure something out and help out, why not?

“And another thing I learned about this is that it’s scary for not only NFL players but college players too. Because we only talk about the NFL, but there’s guys who played in high school, college, and then went pro,” he added, discussing the seriousness of a condition that can affect players long after retirement.

Despite advancements in technology and sports medicine, scientists have yet to find a reliable way to diagnose the disease at an early stage.

Several prominent names, including Mike Webster, Andre Waters, Junior Seau, Ken Stabler, and Frank Gifford, were diagnosed with the condition only after their deaths. Many of these players experienced severe health issues, including cognitive and behavioral problems, before their deaths.

While the NFL has several rules in place to reduce high-impact hits and concussions, issues such as artificial turf versus natural grass remain debatable, with no clear resolution in sight.

The NFLPA, meanwhile, called studies like this ‘critical’ to understanding football’s long-term health impacts and said it remains committed to supporting scientific research, player well-being, and access to care.