Study Finds 19,824 NFL Players Face 4-Fold Brain-Disease Death Risk as Overall Mortality Falls
Updated
Updated · Deseret News · Jul 8
Study Finds 19,824 NFL Players Face 4-Fold Brain-Disease Death Risk as Overall Mortality Falls
3 articles · Updated · Deseret News · Jul 8
Summary
Nearly 20,000 NFL players studied from 1960 to 2019 were found to die from dementia or Parkinson’s at up to four times the general-population rate, according to research published Wednesday in eClinicalMedicine.
Repeated head impacts appear to drive that gap: neurodegenerative mortality stayed about three times higher after adjusting for other risks, and players with five or more seasons had nearly double the risk of those with shorter careers.
Players who died before age 60 showed more than a 12-fold rate of neurodegenerative-linked deaths, while the cohort still had lower overall mortality and fewer deaths from cancer, cardiovascular disease and suicide.
Researchers said that contrast may reflect a 'STARS' selection effect—healthier people are more likely to reach the NFL—while warning that repeated trauma can still outweigh those advantages for brain health.
The findings landed as Boston University confirmed Dallas Cowboys lineman Marshawn Kneeland, who died by suicide last year at 24, had stage 1 CTE, underscoring concern over football-related brain injury.
NFL players live longer but have a 4x higher risk of dying from brain disease. What explains this life-or-death paradox?
If even routine hits cause CTE, not just concussions, can football ever be truly safe for the next generation?
Playing longer in the NFL doubles neurodegenerative death risk. How many seasons are too many before the damage is done?
Landmark Study Finds NFL Players Have Triple the Risk of Neurodegenerative Disease and Suicide Compared to Other Athletes
Overview
A major study published in July 2026 by researchers from Boston University, Mass General Brigham, and the Concussion & CTE Foundation examined nearly 20,000 NFL players who debuted between 1960 and 2019. By analyzing detailed career data and causes of death for almost 2,000 deceased players, the study compared NFL players’ mortality rates to the general population. The findings reveal a significantly higher risk of neurodegenerative diseases among NFL athletes, highlighting the serious long-term health consequences of playing professional football and underscoring the urgent need for better prevention and support.