Football is a game of strength, strategy, and spirit but beneath the excitement lies a serious concern: Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
What Is CTE?
CTE is a progressive degenerative brain disease found in individuals with a history of repetitive brain trauma, including athletes and military veterans. It’s caused by repeated head injuries, both concussive and sub-concussive. Over time, a protein called tau misfolds and spreads throughout the brain, causing symptoms such as memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, aggression, depression, and eventually progressive dementia.1
Currently, CTE can only be definitively diagnosed after death. However, its symptoms can begin appearing years after the brain trauma, making early prevention critically important.
The NFL and CTE: Recent Findings
Research has shown a strong connection between the length of time playing football and the risk of developing CTE. A 2024 Boston University study concluded that the risk of CTE doubles for every 2.6 years of football played, regardless of level of competition.2
Additionally, a recent Harvard Medical School study found that 1 in 3 former NFL players believe they have CTE, an indication of how widespread concern has become among professional athletes.3
These findings have prompted changes in the NFL, such as limiting full-contact practices and encouraging the use of protective gear. But researchers argue that preventative action at the youth and high school level is just as important.
SAFR Helmet Covers: A Seatbelt for the Brain
This is where SAFR comes in. SAFR has developed game-ready helmet covers that reduce the external blunt force transferred to the brain. The covers are also customizable, allowing schools and teams to maintain their branding while adding an extra layer of safety.
In a recent two-year high school study, SAFR Helmet Covers helped reduce concussions by 48% compared to teams not using the covers. Additional lab studies and field studies were also completed in previous years further reinforcing the positive impact wearing a helmet cover can have.
“Wearing a SAFR Helmet Cover is like buckling your seatbelt in a car. It doesn’t prevent all accidents, but it significantly reduces the risk of serious injury. By lessening the force transferred to the brain on every hit. Here at SAFR we’re taking a proactive step in protecting our athletes.”
– John Zeglinski, SAFR CEO
How You Can Help
Preventing CTE and other brain injuries starts with awareness and action. Whether you’re a parent, coach, school administrator, or concerned fan, you can play a role by:
- Supporting teams that prioritize safety
- Advocating for the use of protective gear like SAFR Helmet Covers
- Donating or sponsoring a team’s SAFR equipment
- Sharing educational resources to raise awareness
To learn more about SAFR Helmet Covers HERE.
References
1 Concussion Legacy Foundation. (n.d.). What is CTE?. Retrieved from https://concussionfoundation.org/cte-resources/what-is-cte/
2 Boston University. (2024). How research on CTE changed the NFL. Retrieved from https://www.bu.edu/articles/2024/research-on-cte-changed-the-nfl/
3 Harvard Medical School. (2024). Study of former NFL players finds 1 in 3 believes they have CTE. Retrieved from https://hms.harvard.edu/news/study-former-nfl-players-finds-1-3-believes-they-have-cte
