1 in 4 former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE, study finds

NPR | By Becky Sullivan,

Michel Martin

Published August 26, 2026 at 4:45 AM EDT

A new study finds that 1 in 4 NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE, the degenerative brain disease. Researchers have long known about the link between repeated head hits and CTE.

Becky Sullivan

Becky Sullivan is NPR’s sports correspondent.

See stories by Becky Sullivan

Michel Martin

Michel Martin is a host of Morning Edition.

See stories by Michel Martin

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