League of Denial: The NFL’s Concussion Crisis

76 of 79 Deceased NFL Players Found to Have Brain Disease

September 30, 2014, 2:57 pm ET · by Jason M. Breslow

The nation’s largest brain bank focused on the crippling disease known as CTE has now found the condition in 96 percent of players it has tested posthumously.

Judge Approves NFL Concussion Settlement

July 7, 2014, 7:42 pm ET · by Jason M. Breslow

Judge Anita Brody’s preliminary approval means that more than 18,000 players and their beneficiaries will now vote on the deal.

NFL Removes Cap on Damages in Bid to End Concussion Lawsuit

June 25, 2014, 4:33 pm ET · by Jason M. Breslow

The agreement comes nearly seven months after a U.S. District Court judge rejected an initial settlement, saying she did not believe that the $675 million set aside for damages would cover every player who may need aid.

FRONTLINE Wins Peabody Award for “League of Denial”

April 2, 2014, 12:16 pm ET · by Patrice Taddonio

FRONTLINE’s investigation of the NFL’s concussion crisis wins a prestigious honor.

NFL Concussions: The 2013-14 Season In Review

January 30, 2014, 4:31 pm ET · by Jason M. Breslow

The 2013-14 season was supposed to be the year the NFL put its concussion crisis behind it. Instead, it may now be remembered as the year the taboo around football head injuries was all but erased.

Judge Rejects $765 Million NFL Concussion Settlement

January 14, 2014, 3:59 pm ET · by Jason M. Breslow

A federal judge has rejected a $765 million settlement between the NFL and thousands of former players, ruling that the agreement may not go far enough to cover every player who may need aid.

Three Former NFL Stars Diagnosed With Telltale Signs of CTE

November 7, 2013, 4:37 pm ET · by Jason M. Breslow

NFL Hall of Famer Joe DeLamielleure is one of three players to test positive for signs of the crippling brain disease, chronic traumatic encephalopathy.

High School Football Players Face Bigger Concussion Risk

October 31, 2013, 4:09 pm ET · by Jason M. Breslow

High school football players are nearly twice as likely as college players to suffer a concussion either in a game or at practice, according to a new study funded by the NFL.

Brett Favre: “God Only Knows The Toll” From NFL Concussions

October 26, 2013, 5:06 pm ET · by Jason M. Breslow

Less than three years since retiring, the legendary quarterback has become one of the most high profile players to acknowledge he has experienced health problems stemming from repeated concussions in the NFL.

What NFL Players Are Saying About “League of Denial”

October 11, 2013, 2:10 pm ET · by Jason M. Breslow

Current players have begun to weigh on FRONTLINE’s investigation into the NFL’s concussion crisis.

Did “League of Denial” Change the Way You Feel About Football?

October 10, 2013, 5:06 pm ET · by Nathan Tobey

We’ve heard from viewers across the country. Here’s what they’ve told us. What do you think?

Timeline: The NFL’s Concussion Crisis

October 8, 2013, 9:57 pm ET · by Lauren Ezell

What did the NFL know and when did it know it?

Inside the NFL’s Concussion Crisis – Live Chat Transcript

October 8, 2013, 9:36 pm ET · by Nathan Tobey

Join a live chat on “League of Denial: The NFL’s Concussion Crisis” with producer Mike Wiser, reporters Steve Fainaru and Mark Fainaru-Wada, Mike Webster’s son Garrett, and guest questioner Richard Deitsch from “Sports Illustrated.” You can leave a question now.

How CTE Affects the Brain

October 8, 2013, 8:45 pm ET · by Evan Wexler

It’s the disease linked to brain trauma in football players – here’s how it works.

Dig Deeper: Investigating the NFL’s Concussion Crisis

October 8, 2013, 8:44 pm ET · by Jason M. Breslow

A collection of essential reads on the NFL and its response to the concussion crisis.

Debating the Science of Concussions

October 8, 2013, 8:43 pm ET · by Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru

In an excerpt from their book, League of Denial, reporters Mark Fainaru-Wada and Steve Fainaru detail how an official NFL conference on concussions descended into a near brawl between neuroscientists.

In Damage Control Mode, NFL Shied From Its Own Brain Research

October 8, 2013, 1:50 pm ET · by Jason M. Breslow

In 2009, a leaked NFL study seemed to mark a game-changer in the concussion crisis — until the league distanced itself from the research.

The Autopsy That Changed Football

October 6, 2013, 8:06 am ET · by Jason M. Breslow

When Dr. Bennet Omalu found CTE in the brain of Steelers legend Mike Webster, he believed NFL doctors would want to know more. They didn’t.

NFL Commissioner Highlights Safety Record In Letter To Fans

October 3, 2013, 2:37 pm ET · by Jason M. Breslow

The letter, sent to roughly 10 million fans, comes one day after the release of two book excerpts detailing the NFL’s checkered response to football’s concussion crisis.

How One Client’s Concussion Shook the Real “Jerry Maguire”

October 2, 2013, 2:00 pm ET · by Jason M. Breslow

As an NFL super agent, Leigh Steinberg saw it all, especially when it came to injuries. But of all the hard hits he ever witnessed, there was one that especially frightened him: Troy Aikman’s concussion.

For the NFL, Focus on Concussions Yields Mixed Results

September 24, 2013, 12:20 pm ET · by Jason M. Breslow

Despite a new emphasis on player safety, a FRONTLINE analysis found NFL concussions on the rise in 2012, as half of players returned from their injuries without missing a game.

Report: NFL Concussion Settlement Could Shut Out Many

September 20, 2013, 3:46 pm ET · by Jason M. Breslow

The very first players to be diagnosed with football-related brain damage may not allow any compensation, according to a new report.

NFL Reaches $765 Million Settlement In Concussion Lawsuit

August 29, 2013, 4:57 pm ET · by Jason M. Breslow

The NFL has reached a settlement with more than 4,500 former players who were suing the league for allegedly concealing a link between traumatic brain injuries and professional football.

A Note from FRONTLINE: ESPN and “League of Denial”

August 22, 2013, 5:17 pm ET

You may notice some changes to our League of Denial and Concussion Watch websites.

Questions Over NFL Doctor Cloud League’s Concussion Case

August 18, 2013, 10:03 am ET · by Steve Fainaru and John Barr

As the former chairman of the NFL’s powerful research arm, Dr. Elliot Pellman helped shape the league’s concussion guidelines, yet as a rheumatologist, he had no previous expertise in brain research.

Coming Soon on FRONTLINE: “League of Denial”

August 6, 2013, 2:58 pm ET · by Jason M. Breslow

This fall, FRONTLINE will air a special two-part investigation examining whether the NFL has covered up the risks of football on the brain.

NFL Helmet Manufacturer Warned On Concussion Risk

May 1, 2013, 10:50 am ET · by Sabrina Shankman

Despite the warning, Riddell promoted its Revolution helmet — used by players from youth leagues up to the NFL — as providing better protection against concussions.

In Brawl For Seau Brain, a Proxy War Over Concussion Science

April 29, 2013, 11:15 am ET · by Steve Fainaru and Mark Fainaru-Wada

The NFL’s intervention in the fate of Junior Seau’s brain — the most prized specimen yet in the race to document the relationship between football and brain damage — was part of an aggressive strategy to dictate who leads the science of concussions.

Concussion Researchers Consulted With NFL Players’ Lawyers

April 5, 2013, 10:55 am ET · by Steve Fainaru and Mark Fainaru-Wada

The disclosures come as oral arguments begin Tuesday in U.S. District Court in Philadelphia on the NFL’s motion to dismiss a lawsuit, which involves more than 4,000 former players who allege the league concealed the effects of football-related head trauma.