The NFL Under Fire: Former players demand stronger measures as concerns about CTE escalate
New CTE research has renewed questions over whether former players are receiving enough care after years of physical punishment
Mark Collins doesn't regret playing football. He won two Super Bowls, spent more than a decade in the NFL and understood that every season came with physical risk. His concern now is what happens after players leave the field and begin living with the consequences.
The former New York Giants safety was one of several retired players who spoke to Sports Illustrated following renewed attention on chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, and the long-term health of former NFL players. Collins ’ frustration was aimed squarely at the league.
He argued that the NFL has the resources to provide much more substantial financial support to the comparatively small group of men who actually played in the league.
“They could do a f**king lot more,” Collins said. “This is a $3 trillion business. They could put in an annual quasi-salary of $200,000 to former players, stuff like that. They could do a lot of other things.”
Danger doesn't end when a career does
Collins hasn't been diagnosed with a neurological condition, but that hasn't stopped him from thinking about what could lie ahead. He cited former players such as Dave Duerson and Roger Craig while describing the unease that comes with knowing he belongs to the same group.
“You go, O.K., it’s got to a point where that could be me,” Collins said. “That could have been me. Or is that what I’m going toward?”
His comments came after research examining former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021. Of the 235 players whose brains were donated for examination, 215 showed evidence of CTE.
That finding has only intensified a debate that has followed the league for years. Former Denver Broncos wide receiver Mark Jackson said he suffered “at least four documented concussions” and believes his own chances of having CTE are extremely high.
“Yeah, I have CTE. It’s almost 100% positive that I do because I have the documented cases in Minnesota,” Jackson said. “I’m disappointed that the NFL hasn’t shelled out a quarter of a million or three hundred thousand to every player and called it a day.”
Former stars want stronger lifetime protection
Collins was far from alone in calling for more. Hall of Fame quarterback Warren Moon said former players should have access to lifetime health support, including regular medical screening.
“I think the benefits have improved, but they haven’t improved enough, especially on the health side of it,” Moon said. “I think we should have lifetime health care as well.”
Hall of Fame safety LeRoy Butler made a similar argument: “The money is not the issue,” Butler said. “They have the money.”
The NFL has made significant changes around concussion protocols, medical testing, player safety and compensation for qualifying former players. Collins ’ position, however, is that acknowledging football’s inherent danger shouldn't end the conversation.
“This is something we signed up for. We get it,” Collins said. “But a lot of guys put their bodies on the line and sometimes things happen, but the league has to see that as well and take care of those guys who played this game, who got them rich.”
