NPR
At least 25% of former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE, study finds
Tuesday, August 25, 2026
A study of former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 found CTE in at least 25% of the examined cases. The research adds to existing evidence of a link between football and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain condition. The exact prevalence of CTE among former NFL players remains unclear.
Original reporting: https://www.npr.org/2026/08/25/nx-s1-5943168/cte-nfl-concussions-deaths-study