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One in Four American Football Players Dies from Head Injury

A study found that a quarter of the former athletes analyzed died from neurodegenerative diseases related to head trauma.

26 August 2026Tagblick Newsdesk

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Archive photo: One in Four American Football Players Dies from Head Injury — Archive photoPhoto: USCPSC · Flickr · BY

According to research published in the British Medical Journal, one in four American football players who died in the United States between 2016 and 2021 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a brain disease associated with repeated head injuries.

The study examined 878 former NFL athletes, who showed a high incidence of neurodegenerative diseases, highlighting the risks associated with playing American football.

The findings of the research raised concerns about player safety and the need to better protect athletes from the consequences of brain injuries.

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