That Vincent Jackson brain showed stage 2 CTE should no longer surprise us ; these results have become commonplace. What is surprising is that so many football players have died with CTE and so little is being done to make football, at all levels, safer by limiting the number of repetitive subconcussive hits.

Ann McKee

The way football is being played currently, that I have seen, it's dangerous. It's dangerous and it could impact their long-term mental health. You only get one brain.

impact nfl football

How many years of football is too many? What is the genetic risk? Some players do not have evidence of this disease despite long playing years.

I unequivocally think there's a link between playing football and CTE, we've seen it in 90 out of 94 NFL players whose brains we've examined, we've found it in 45 out of 55 college players and six out of 26 high school players. Now I don't think this represents how common this disease is in the living population, but the fact that over five years I've been able to accumulate this number of cases in football players, it cannot be rare. In fact, I think we are going to be surprised at how common it is.

It shows that even playing quarterback -- and if you play a number of years -- that you're at risk for developing this disease.

I think its becoming more and more clear that the developing brain is more susceptible to concussion; it has a delayed recovery from concussion.

We really need to limit the amount of head contact that young children and adolescents are experiencing.

I have a little easier time watching the NFL than college or high school. I used to go to the high school games, and now I have trouble with it. The NFL players get big rewards from it. I feel at least the NFL has made big changes to help their safety. And they're adults - they can make good decisions.

feel good time school

I would advise kids not to play any sports, such as tackle football, where they are exposed to repeated blows to the head.

head play football sports

My three children played soccer and lacrosse. I grew up as a Green Bay Packers fan. I am not against sports. We want kids to play sports, but we want them to be safe.

i-am green sports children

While we know, on average, that certain positions experience more repetitive head impacts and are more likely at greater risk for CTE, no position is immune.

more know experience risk

The overwhelming evidence is that trauma is a major factor in CTE... by Ann McKee

The overwhelming evidence is that trauma is a major factor in CTE.

factor major trauma evidence

My greatest hope is that we learn how trauma induces neurodegener... by Ann McKee

My greatest hope is that we learn how trauma induces neurodegeneration in susceptible individuals.

learn how trauma hope

Nothing good happens without a penalty. by Ann McKee

Nothing good happens without a penalty.

without nothing good happens

I love sports, OK? But I think we really need to take it on ourselves to not be so crazy about sports, not to risk someone's future just because we think they might be the next star.

future crazy love sports

Our national identity is so interwoven with football. by Ann McKee

Our national identity is so interwoven with football.

national our identity football

I feel like Dr. Death. by Ann McKee

I feel like Dr. Death.

i-feel-like feel like death

I can't say I love football anymore. by Ann McKee

I can't say I love football anymore.

anymore say love football

If football is your passion in life and you would rather play football for 20 years and have a shortened life span, that's your choice.

you passion football life

Frankly, I think it should be no football until you're physically... by Ann McKee

Frankly, I think it should be no football until you're physically mature.

think you mature football

CTE can be caused by smaller hits to the head over time. by Ann McKee

CTE can be caused by smaller hits to the head over time.

smaller head over time