Study Finds Over 25% of Deceased NFL Players Had CTE Between 2016-2021

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, is a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated blows to the head. For years, doctors and advocates have warned that professional football puts athletes at risk for this condition, but precise numbers have been difficult to establish.

Before this study, most evidence came from high-profile cases or smaller research samples. CTE can only be definitively diagnosed after death, which has limited what scientists and the public can know about its true prevalence among athletes.

On August 25, 2026, several major outlets, including NPR News and CBC News, reported on a new study examining the brains of former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021. The research team analyzed 878 deceased players and found that at least 215 had detectable signs of CTE, according to World News CNA and NBC News. That means more than 25 percent of those studied were affected by the disease.

Dr. Daniel Daneshvar, who led the research, told The Independent that the exact rate was 24.5 percent. Other outlets, like ABC Australia and CBS Sports, confirmed similar numbers. Researchers stressed that these findings likely underestimate the actual prevalence, since CTE can only be diagnosed if families donate the brain for study.

The study also highlighted the severity of CTE symptoms, which can include memory loss, depression, and cognitive decline. According to Science-Based Medicine, CTE does not just follow severe head injuries but can develop after repeated mild impacts, which are common in football.

The findings have reignited debate about player safety in the NFL. According to The New York Times, families and experts are now questioning whether football can be made safer or if more drastic changes are needed. The research has brought new attention to the risks of repeated head impacts, especially as the NFL season approaches.

Calls for further study and better diagnostic tools continue. As Science Magazine noted, diagnosing CTE in living players remains impossible, complicating efforts to address the problem earlier in life.

Researchers are urging the NFL and other football organizations to take these results seriously. There is pressure to improve safety rules, reduce head impacts during both games and practice, and invest in developing ways to diagnose CTE before death. The long-term health of players, from youth leagues to the pros, remains a pressing question.