Dr. Sanjay Gupta on Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) & the NFL’s New Kickoff Rule

This is a guest blog post written by WWSG exclusive thought leader, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.

CTE

As with most people, there are parts of me that may seem contradictory. For example, I’m a neurosurgeon; I’ve spent years of my career studying and operating on the brain. And yet I am also a huge football fan.

Watching Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa take a big hit to the head last night reminded me once again of the toll football can take.

I’ve studied and seen firsthand the consequences of football: the short-term risks of concussions, and the potential long-term danger of neurodegenerative disease like chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Researchers at Boston University have documented CTE in nearly 92% of 376 former NFL players whose brains were donated because their families worried they had the disease because they showed symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, aggression, depression and, for some players, suicide.  CTE has even been documented in high school players.

And yet, every fall, I’m drawn to the athleticism and camaraderie of the game.

American Football Looks Toward Safety

It’s why, as a journalist, I’ve also been interested in watching the game evolve, through equipment or rule changes, with an eye toward safety. This year, the NFL has introduced one of the biggest rule changes in the game’s history.

The kickoff is an iconic part of football. At the beginning of each game and after each score, the two teams line up on opposing sides of the field. When one team kicks the ball down the field to the other, players on the kicking team will also sprint down the field to try to tackle the receiver. It’s high-speed and high-velocity, and it can result in significant injury.

The NFL said kickoffs resulted in four times more concussions than any other play last season. And so this season, the two opposing teams will stand only 5 yards apart for kickoffs, with the aim of cutting down the speed and velocity of players running and tackling each other. Here is how it will work.

Additional Resources

I spent time with my friend and colleague Dr. Allen Sills, chief medical officer of the NFL, to better understand the league’s approach to this. We had a lengthy conversation about how the game can evolve to keep players safe, and yet still maintain the excitement and athleticism that so many of us love.

It’s never going to be a completely safe game, but I think these discussions will lead to the evolution of a safer game — not just at the professional level, but also for our kids.