Boston University researchers have diagnosed former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland with Stage 1 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) following his death in November 2025. Kneeland, who was 24, died by suicide after a high-speed police chase. His family released the findings this week to provide context regarding his struggles. Diagnosis and Findings from the … Read more
Aldon Smith, a former 49ers All-Pro defensive end whose 2013 NFL Defensive Player of the Year season helped lead San Francisco to a Super Bowl appearance, died at 36 on June 13, 2024, after spending his final hours delivering pizzas for a Bay Area homeless charity, according to The New York Times. His family has … Read more
The family of NHL legend Claude Lemieux announced Saturday that his brain will be donated to the Boston University CTE Center to advance research into the long-term effects of repetitive head trauma. Lemieux, a four-time Stanley Cup champion who played nearly 1,500 games between 1983 and 2009, died of suicide on Thursday at age 60. … Read more