Study Estimates Over 25% of Deceased Former NFL Players Had CTE

Milwaukee, WI, August 25, 2026 —

A new study suggests that a significant portion of former National Football League (NFL) players who have died in recent years may have had Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). The research, published in the journal BMJ, estimates that at least 1 in 4 former NFL players whose deaths occurred between 2016 and 2021 were affected by the neurodegenerative disease.

CTE is a condition characterized by a progressive breakdown of brain tissue, and it has been linked to repeated head impacts sustained during football. The study sought to offer a more precise estimation of CTE prevalence within the former player population by examining a combination of death certificate data and information from brain donations.

The researchers utilized available data from deceased former NFL players within the specified timeframe to develop their estimates. While the study provides a quantitative estimate, the specific number of players included in the analysis and the detailed methodology for combining death certificate data with brain donation information were not detailed in the provided summary.

The implications of this estimate highlight ongoing concerns regarding the long-term neurological health of professional football players. Previous research has also indicated a high prevalence of CTE among former players, but this study attempts to refine those figures using a more recent data set.

Further details regarding the specific diagnoses on death certificates and the characteristics of the brains donated for research were not elaborated upon in the summary. The study’s findings underscore the importance of continued research into the effects of head trauma in sports.

Story summarized from the original created by Nadia Kounang, CNN on www.tmj4.com, see more information here.