CTE and the NFL: Players Whose Deaths Have Been Linked to the Disease
Summary
Marshawn Kneeland, a former Dallas Cowboys player, was found to have early-stage chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) after his death in 2025. CTE is a brain disease caused by repeated head impacts and can only be diagnosed after death. His family shared his diagnosis to raise awareness about the risks athletes face in contact sports.Key Facts
- Marshawn Kneeland died by suicide in November 2025 at age 24.
- Boston University’s CTE Center confirmed he had Stage 1 CTE after examining his brain.
- CTE results from repeated head injuries and leads to brain damage affecting mood, behavior, and thinking.
- Symptoms of early-stage CTE can include headaches and trouble concentrating.
- CTE cannot be diagnosed in living people and is only confirmed after death.
- A 2023 study showed over 40% of young contact-sport athletes examined had CTE.
- Sports groups have introduced concussion rules, but experts say more must be done to reduce head injuries.
- CTE has also been found in military veterans exposed to repeated head trauma.
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