Neurological disorders
FILE - Irv Cross, a former NFL defensive back who became the first Black man to work full-time as a sports analyst on national television, poses at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minn., April 8, 1999. Cross suffered from stage 4 CTE at the time of his 2021 death. Cross’ widow said the former Philadelphia Eagle suffered from some of the worst symptoms of the brain disorder. (Ann Heisenfelt/Star Tribune via AP, File)
Former NFL star, CBS anchor Irv Cross had brain disease CTE

By Dan Gelston Feb. 28, 2023 08:05 AM EST

FILE - New York Giants football coach Tom Coughlin and his wife, Judy, walk down Main Street in Waterloo, N.Y., July 12, 2008, during a parade to honor the coach of the Super Bowl-winning team. Both are from Waterloo. The wife of two-time Super Bowl-winning coach Tom Coughlin died early Wednesday, Nov. 2, 2022, after a lengthy battled with an uncurable brain disorder. Coughlin and his family released a statement announcing the death of Judy Whitaker Coughlin. She was 77. (Frank Ordonez/The Post-Standard via AP)
Judy Coughlin, wife of ex-NFL coach Tom Coughlin, dies at 77

By Mark Long Nov. 02, 2022 01:04 PM EDT

FILE - A Southern California helmet sits in the end zone prior to an NCAA college football game against UCLA, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2014, in Pasadena, Calif. A Los Angeles jury could be the first in the U.S. to decide whether the NCAA failed to protect college football players from repeated blows to the head that cause serious brain injuries. Opening statements are scheduled Thursday, Oct. 20, 2022, in the case of a former University of Southern California linebacker who had significant brain damage when he died at age 49. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill, File)
Concussion lawsuit against NCAA could be first to reach jury

By Brian Melley Oct. 20, 2022 04:45 PM EDT

FILE - Pittsburgh Steelers NFL football player Najeh Davenport is shown in Pittsburgh on Sept. 23, 2007. Hundreds of Black NFL retirees denied payouts in the $1 billion concussion settlement now qualify for awards after their tests were rescored to eliminate racial bias. The fact that the testing algorithm adjusted scores by race, as a rough proxy for someone's socioeconomic background, went unnoticed for several years until lawyers for former Pittsburgh Steelers Kevin Henry and Najeh Davenport exposed it in a 2020 lawsuit. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
More Black NFL retirees win dementia cases in rescored tests

By Maryclaire Dale Aug. 12, 2022 09:12 AM EDT

Rugby players taking legal action about brain injury claims

Jul. 24, 2022 07:23 PM EDT
LONDON (AP) — More than 100 former rugby players are taking legal action against World Rugby and the national governing bodies of England and Wales over what they...

FILE - In this Sept. 16, 2018, file photo, Denver Broncos wide receiver Demaryius Thomas (88) runs against the Oakland Raiders during the second half of an NFL football game, in Denver. Former NFL star Demaryius Thomas, who died last December at age 33, had CTE, his family said Tuesday, July 5, 2022. (AP Photo/Jack Dempsey, File)
Former NFL receiver Demaryius Thomas' family says he had CTE

Jul. 05, 2022 01:05 PM EDT

FILE - Former NFL players Ken Jenkins, right, and Clarence Vaughn III, center right, along with their wives, Amy Lewis, center, and Brooke Vaughn, left, carry tens of thousands of petitions demanding equal treatment for everyone involved in the settlement of concussion claims against the NFL, to the federal courthouse in Philadelphia, Friday, May 14, 2021. Black retired football players who were denied payments for dementia in the NFL's $1 billion concussion settlement can seek to be retested or have their claims rescored to eliminate racial bias in the testing and payout formula, under a revised plan finalized Friday, March 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
Judge approves fix to stem race bias in NFL concussion deal

By Maryclaire Dale Mar. 04, 2022 12:20 PM EST

Judge: Black retired NFL players denied payments for dementia in $1B concussion settlement can seek rescoring, retesting

Mar. 04, 2022 12:19 PM EST
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Judge: Black retired NFL players denied payments for dementia in $1B concussion settlement can seek rescoring, retesting. ...

Family says former Cowboys player, NFL head coach Dan Reeves has died at the age of 77 of complications from dementia

Jan. 01, 2022 09:39 AM EST
ATLANTA (AP) — Family says former Cowboys player, NFL head coach Dan Reeves has died at the age of 77 of complications from dementia. ...

FILE - Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Vincent Jackson warms up before taking on the Denver Broncos in an NFL football game Oct. 2, 2016, in Tampa, Fla. Researchers diagnosed former NFL player Jackson, who was found dead in a Florida hotel room in February 2021, as suffering from stage 2 chronic traumatic encephalopathy. (AP Photo/Jason Behnken, File)
Study: Former NFL receiver Vincent Jackson had stage 2 CTE

Dec. 16, 2021 04:41 PM EST

FILE - New England Patriots linebacker Junior Seau (55) warms up on the field on Jan. 10, 2010, before an NFL wild-card playoff football game in Foxborough, Mass. NFL player turned broadcaster Ross Tucker will wear shoes showing an image of a traumatized brain and a portrait of Seau to raise money for the families of players who suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa, File)
His Cause: NFL broadcaster's shoes will show damaged brain

By Jimmy Golen Dec. 03, 2021 04:58 PM EST

Former Raiders fullback Steve Smith dies at age 57

Nov. 20, 2021 08:00 PM EST
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Former Raiders fullback Steve Smith has died after a long battle with Lou Gehrig's Disease. He was 57. The Raiders...

FILE - In this Dec. 13, 2016, file photo, former Boston College baseball captain Pete Frates smiles after he was presented with the annual NCAA Inspiration Award at his home in Beverly, Mass. Dozens of items of sports memorabilia collected by Peter Frates, whose battle with Lou Gehrig’s disease helped spread the ALS ice bucket challenge, are being auctioned to help people still fighting the disease. Proceeds from the online auction that started Tuesday, Oct. 20, 2020, will benefit the Pete Frates Family Foundation, which assists ALS patients and their families with the cost of home health care, his father, John Frates, told The Salem News. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
Possessions of man behind ice bucket challenge up for sale

Nov. 04, 2021 02:36 PM EDT

NFL agrees to end race-based dementia testing in proposal to settle concussion claims that have paid nearly $1 billion

Oct. 20, 2021 07:40 PM EDT
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — NFL agrees to end race-based dementia testing in proposal to settle concussion claims that have paid nearly $1 billion. ...

FILE - In this Nov. 19, 2014, file photo, NFL lawyer Brad Karp leaves federal court after a hearing on the proposed NFL concussion settlement, in Philadelphia. Lawyers for the NFL and retired players filed proposed changes to the $1 billion concussion settlement on Wednesday, Oct. 20, 2021, to remove race-norming in dementia testing, which made it more difficult for Black players to qualify for payments. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
NFL, players agree to end 'race-norming' in $1B settlement

By Maryclaire Dale Oct. 20, 2021 01:05 AM EDT

FILE- In this June 16, 2014, file photo, former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Tunch Ilkin, right, hugs Mike O'Donnell, the brother of former Steelers quarterback Neil O'Donnell, as they arrive for a viewing for former Pittsburgh Steelers head football coach Chuck Noll in Pittsburgh. Ilkin, a Turkis-born two-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman with the Pittsburgh Steelers in the 1980s who went on to become a beloved member of the organization's broadcast team, died on Saturday morning, Sept. 4, 2021, the team said. He was 63. Ilkin, who revealed last fall he was fighting amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease), had been hospitalized recently with pneumonia. (AP Photo/Keith Srakocic, File)
Former Pro Bowl lineman, broadcaster Tunch Ilkin dies at 63

By Will Graves Sep. 04, 2021 02:37 PM EDT

Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce catches a pass at NFL football training camp Tuesday, Aug. 17, 2021, in St. Joseph, Mo. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel)
Almanac has nearly 500 pages of analytics and analysis

By The Associated Press Aug. 27, 2021 04:02 PM EDT

Brittany Bowlen speaks during a news conference to raise awareness of Alzheimer's disease outside the Denver Broncos' headquarters Wednesday, Aug. 18, 2021, in Englewood, Colo. Both Pat Bowlen, the deceased owner of the Broncos, and now his wife, Annabelle, have dealt with the disease. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Aiding Alzheimer's Association personal for Broncos, Bowlens

By Arnie Stapleton Aug. 18, 2021 03:00 PM EDT

Longtime Steelers broadcaster Ilkin retiring to fight ALS

Jun. 03, 2021 10:22 AM EDT
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Longtime Pittsburgh Steelers radio analyst Tunch Ilkin is retiring to focus on his fight against ALS. Ilkin, who played...

FILE - This Sunday, Sept. 23, 2007, file photo shows Pittsburgh Steelers' Najeh Davenport in Pittsburgh. The NFL on Wednesday, June 2, 2021, pledged to halt the use of “race-norming” — which assumed Black players started out with lower cognitive functioning — in the $1 billion settlement of brain injury claims and review past scores for any potential race bias. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar, File)
NFL pledges to halt 'race-norming,' review Black claims

By Maryclaire Dale Jun. 02, 2021 02:23 PM EDT