The Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University School of Medicine has a growing list of current and retired NFL players who volunteered to donate their brains for research in brain injury treatment and prevention.  These NFL players are stepping up to help doctors and scientists with a problem that is not just plaguing NFL players, but also the young adults that participate in high school and college sports as well.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger was sacked 50 times in 2009. It was the highest number of his career, and that number is only part of the number of times he was hit. Those hits could potentially lead to future brain damage. (SOURCE: Sports Illustrated)

Our brain injury attorneys are very aware that concussions and other sports related brain injuries are affecting all athletes (football players, baseball players) at a wide range of ages (both young and old).

The NFL took steps to improve how concussions are treated after a congressional hearing on the topic after several NFL icons, like Ben Roethlisberger and Brian Westbrook, were sidelined with concussions.  Those new measures include stricter rules on when a player can play again as well as what symptoms can result in a player being excluded from being in games or practices.

The co-director of the center said that examining what happens to a player’s brain after years of playing can be the best way to determine how these brain injuries should be treated in the future.

“The only way we will truly understand the long-term effects of repetitive head trauma in football is to study a large group of athletes throughout their lives and then examine their brains following death,” Dr. Stern said.

Of the current and former players that have agreed to help brain injury research, here are some of the notable players:

  • Chicago Bears linebacker Hunter Hillenmeyer
  • former Miami Dolphins linebacker Zach Thomas
  • Former New Orleans Saints and San Diego State Aztec alum Kyle Turley.

Our brain injury lawyers want athletes to be able to play the sport they love without any fear of getting hurt.  In sports like football, brain injuries are inevitable.  The rising number of concussions has a lot of players and their families spooked, but with new brain research, the future may not be as frightening as the present for these modern day gladiators.

Call us now at 1-858-551-2090 or click here for a free consultation with an experienced brain injury attorney and find out how we can help you.  We speak English and Spanish, and we look forward to providing advice for your case.  No fee if no recovery.