At least 1 in 4 former NFL players has CTE: Study

At least 1 in 4 former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE, study finds.

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National story. 83 articles from 47 sources. 44 are on the bar; 3 are international, entertainment or tech outlets, listed separately. Updated Aug 27, 2026.

How each side is putting it

Left

11 sources
TimeLean Left· Aug 27, 2026

At Least One in Four NFL Players May Have CTE

GBH NewsLean Left· Aug 26, 2026

At least 1 in 4 NFL players who died in recent years had CTE, study finds

Ran by 3 outlets· Hawaiitribune Herald, Philadelphia Inquirer, +1 more
Hawaiitribune HeraldLean Left· Aug 26, 2026

Study’s alarming finding: At least 1 in 4 NFL players gets brain disease

Philadelphia InquirerLean Left· Aug 25, 2026

Study’s alarming finding: At least 1 in 4 NFL players gets brain disease

BostonLean Left· Aug 25, 2026

Study’s alarming finding: At least 1 in 4 NFL players gets brain disease

PBS NewsHourLean Left· Aug 25, 2026

New study reveals widespread signs of brain trauma among former NFL players

PhillyVoiceLean Left· Aug 25, 2026

At least 1 in 4 NFL players develop CTE — and that's likely an undercount, new study finds

Center

25 sources
Casper Star-TribuneCenter· Aug 27, 2026

Latest study reveals effects of CTE

Ran by 11 outlets· WKBN Youngstown, KTLA Los Angeles, +9 more
WKBN YoungstownCenter· Aug 27, 2026

At least 1 in 4 former NFL players has CTE: Study

KTLA Los AngelesCenter· Aug 26, 2026

At least 1 in 4 former NFL players has CTE: Study

WSAV-TVCenter· Aug 26, 2026

At least 1 in 4 former NFL players has CTE: Study

WCBD News 2Center· Aug 26, 2026

At least 1 in 4 former NFL players has CTE: Study

Mycham Plain ValleyCenter· Aug 26, 2026

At least 1 in 4 former NFL players has CTE: Study

WDTN DaytonCenter· Aug 26, 2026

At least 1 in 4 former NFL players has CTE: Study

KTSM 9 NewsCenter· Aug 26, 2026

At least 1 in 4 former NFL players has CTE: Study

FOX 21 Colorado SpringsCenter· Aug 26, 2026

At least 1 in 4 former NFL players has CTE: Study

KSNT TopekaCenter· Aug 26, 2026

At least 1 in 4 former NFL players has CTE: Study

BRPROUD Baton RougeCenter· Aug 26, 2026

At least 1 in 4 former NFL players has CTE: Study

Phl17Center· Aug 26, 2026

At least 1 in 4 former NFL players has CTE: Study

KYMA YumaCenter· Aug 26, 2026

New CTE study says about 25% of NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE

FOX8 WGHPCenter· Aug 26, 2026

25% of dead former NFL players had CTE, study finds

CBS NewsCenter· Aug 25, 2026

New study raises concerns about prevalence of CTE among NFL players

Right

8 sources
Fox NewsRight· Aug 25, 2026

New research finds 1 in 4 NFL players could develop CTE in their lifetime: 'Should be a call to action'

Ran by 2 outlets· New Hampshire Union Leader, Union Leader
New Hampshire Union LeaderLean Right· Aug 25, 2026

Study: At least 25% of NFL players in sample had CTE

Union LeaderLean Right· Aug 25, 2026

Study: At least 25% of NFL players in sample had CTE

The Daily CallerRight· Aug 25, 2026

At Least 25 Percent Of Dead NFL Players Diagnosed With CTE In Sample, Study Says

Breitbart NewsRight· Aug 25, 2026

Study: At Least 1 in 4 Ex-NFL Players Who Died from 2016 to 2021 Had CTE

New York PostLean Right· Aug 25, 2026

‘Alarmingly high’ number of former NFL stars develop CTE, according to massive new study

Other outlets

International, entertainment and tech outlets, by their rating. Not counted in the bar above. How we count coverage

Left

2 articles
GizmodoLeft· Aug 25, 2026

Scientists Studied 338 NFL Players’ Brains After Death. Nearly All Had the Same Disease

The GuardianLean Left· Aug 25, 2026

Study finds that one in four former NFL players suffers from degenerative brain disease CTE

Center

1 article
BBC NewsCenter· Aug 25, 2026

Brain disease in dead NFL players 'higher than previously shown'

Right

0 articles

None

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You are hereAug 24, 2026

At least 1 in 4 former NFL players has CTE: Study

47 sources