Success: NFL Acknowledges Link Between Football, Brain Disease

Target: NFL senior vice president for health and safety Jeff Miller

Goal: Applaud recent comments acknowledging link between football and brain disease.

The National Football League has finally conceded that playing football poses a number of serious long-term health risks thanks to public pressure resulting from petitions such as this one on ForceChange. The U.S. House of Representatives’ Committee on Energy and Commerce recently convened a round-table discussion, and in this discussion the NFL’s senior vice president for health and safety Jeff Miller acknowledged that medical evidence has proven a link between football and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. Mr. Miller is the league’s top safety and health officer, and his admission represents the first instance in which a senior league official has referenced the risk of football players suffering from this debilitating brain disease.

This announcement represents a major victory for player safety and welfare. Despite repeatedly stressing the need to protect players, Commissioner Roger Goddell and other NFL officials had yet to take an official position on the CTE issue, instead stating that the medical community should decide. As recently as Super Bowl Weekend, Dr. Mitch Berger, the head of the NFL subcommittee on long-term brain injury, maintained that a link between football and CTE had yet to be established.

The NFL’s decision to finally acknowledge this matter will be instrumental in future player safety decisions. Sign to commend Mr. Miller for his progressive stance.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Mr. Miller,

I am writing to thank you for your recent comments concerning the link between football and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. For years, National Football League officials have insisted that they would not take a position on this matter until more evidence is available. Now that extensive evidence has been released clearly connecting CTE and football, your remarks demonstrate that the league is fully intent on staying true to its word and protecting its players.

Football can be a dangerous sport, and it is essential that players and their families are fully aware of the potential risks. Thank you for your acknowledgement of this very serious matter.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo credit: John Martinez Pavliga