ESPN covers alarming NFL-CTE study on player health
Yahoo Sports • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 25, 2026, 5:00 PM
Last updated Aug 25, 2026

On August 25, ESPN reported on a concerning study published in the British Medical Journal revealing that nearly 25 percent of former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The study analyzed the brains of 235 former players, finding that at least 215 exhibited signs of CTE, which is associated with repeated head trauma. This exploration comes amid heightened awareness of the health risks for players, especially as younger athletes show declining participation in football. ESPN addressed the study on its prominent morning shows like 'Get Up' and 'First Take', highlighting the significance of this issue within the context of ongoing discussions about player safety in the league.
- •Study shows 878 former NFL players died between 2016 and 2021.
- •215 of 235 examined brains displayed CTE symptoms.
- •CTE is caused by repeated head impacts; diagnosis occurs posthumously.
- •ESPN has a history of covering concussion-related issues in football.
- •The NFL faces scrutiny over player safety and health management.
- 5:00 PMYahoo Sports — ESPN thoroughly covers concerning NFL-CTE study
"Just one day after ESPN largely dropped the ball in covering breaking news about San Francisco 49ers owner Jed York’s arrest during a prostitution sting in Ohio, the network is proving to viewers it can cover tough stories related to the NFL when it wants to. On Tuesday, ESPN addressed the concerning new study published…
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