Former Indianapolis Colts punter and ESPN star Pat McAfee isn’t satisfied with the way the NFL treats its retired players.
Earlier this week, the British Medical Journal released a study regarding CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) in NFL players who passed away between 2016-2021. The data they found was concerning to say the least.
“Researchers considered every former N.F.L. player who died from 2016 to 2021. There were 878. Some died in their 20s, some in their 80s, most in between,” the British Medical Journal’s report stated. “The study’s main finding was simple math: At least 215 of those 878 former players — 24.5 percent — had C.T.E. The actual prevalence could be far higher. The roughly 25 percent rate does not consider the 643 brains that were not examined. Some of those, maybe many of them, likely had C.T.E. too.”
During this Wednesday’s episode of “The Pat McAfee Show,” the former All-Pro shared his thoughts on this matter.
“The fact that there is a plethora of resources at least being presented is good for former players … lifetime medical, that seems like a layup for some NFL insurance partners,” McAfee said. “I don’t know how that hasn’t happened yet. That feels like a very stupid hill to die on.”
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Will actual changes be made?
As of right now, NFL players with three or more credited seasons are allowed to extend their benefits and insurance coverage for five additional years. McAfee obviously believes certain changes should be made.
“Both the NFLPA and the NFL, every single CBA, have seemingly decided that that is not worthy of a conversation. And I know the NFL expects the NFLPA to do it, and the NFLPA is like, ‘We’ve gotta worry about, you know, what your deal is.’ NFL, if you looked out for former players and provided insurance, it would be a big baby-face move for former players.”
McAfee added, ” I think guys would play every single time, knowing what’s possible, to change the trajectory of their entire lives. Football has been very good to a lot of people. But I do think that we do gotta figure out how to not have the same s— happen in the future.”
We’ll see if the NFLPA listens to McAfee’s remarks and pushes for better insurance coverage.
