Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative brain disease that causes the death of nerve cells in the brain. A study of NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 found that 215 out of 235 players who donated their brains had CTE at time of death. This means that if players diagnosed with CTE are the only ones who had it, 24.5 percent of these former NFL players had CTE.
Two Warrior writers argue their answers to an enduring debate: Given the risks to players, is it ethical to watch professional football?

Yes, Players Know the Risks

by Luke Landreth ’28

Watching NFL football provides people with entertainment and showcases incredible athletic skill and ability. Every Sunday, millions of people gather together with friends and family to support their favorite teams, creating traditions and shared experiences. For many fans, football is a way to connect with people and share something they enjoy while also celebrating the remarkable talent and dedication of the athletes on the field.

However, there are concerns about football, especially the long-term health risks for players. Some studies have found CTE in former football players, which raises questions about whether fans should support the sport. However, statistics such as “1 in 4 players” should be examined carefully because they may come from specific groups of players and do not necessarily represent every NFL player. Most of these CTE cases are found in players that were in the league well before many more safety measures were implemented. Players now are likely to avoid CTE due to the new concussion protocols in the NFL, injury spotters that specifically look for possible injuries, and new AI injury research in which technology with AI is used to identify situations where players have higher injury risk. Beyond these measures, the NFL continues to invest in research and education through partnerships and universities that help develop better ways to detect and treat head injuries earlier.

Players also choose to play football knowing the risks of CTE and other dangers to their physical health. Top players understand that football is a physical sport and decide that the benefits of earning around $15-20 million a year as a Pro Bowler are worth the potential risks. They also have the ability to speak out about safety and push for better protection and equipment. In addition, players receive more thorough medical evaluations than ever before, and independent neurological experts now play a larger role in return-to-play decisions, showing that the league treats player health as a long term priority.

The NFL has introduced rule changes, improved equipment, and concussion safe protocols to improve the safety of players. NFL fans can enjoy the sport while also supporting efforts to make it safer for players. The league introduced new and updated helmets that protect players’ heads and came up with guardian caps that a number of skill position players now wear in practices and games. These improvements allow fans to stay informed, and advocate for continued progress, helping create a culture where the excitement of the game and the health of athletes can coexist.

Watching the NFL is ethical because it provides people with entertainment and brings people together. The NFL works harder each year to address safety concerns and protect its athletes at all costs. People can appreciate the athletic ability of players while realizing the protection they receive. 

No, Watch Something Else

by Emma Cosca ’27

Anyone who has watched a football game has seen an injury. The average NFL game includes over 20. Every Sunday, players endure repetitive head impacts, continually absorbing compounding brain trauma. The extreme result of this damage is a disease that degrades the nerve cells and manifests itself in memory loss, severe depression, erratic behavior, and long-term cognitive decline: CTE. Knowing at least a quarter of NFL players are expected to develop this disease, it’s evident that enjoying the game as entertainment directly subsidizes a violent enterprise that inflicts severe, irreversible harm on its participants. 

Yet, defenders of the sport often point to the NFL players’ lucrative contracts and argue that athletes voluntarily accept the risks, both physical and mental. This argument ignores systemic inequality and structural coercion. The pipeline into the NFL draws disproportionately from economically disadvantaged communities, where football is often viewed as one of the few viable paths to upward social mobility and financial security. When severe physical harm becomes a primary means of financial success, the notion of “free will” becomes deeply blurred. Meanwhile, the audience enjoying the game is largely insulated from these consequences. Many affluent fans happily tune in to watch tackle football while choosing to keep their own children out of contact sports because of the well-documented risks.

Additionally, the league’s financial realities often paint a grimmer picture than many imagine. Most roster spots go to rotational or fringe players who earn close to the league minimum ($840,000). After taxes, agent fees, and living costs (usually in big cities), their career earnings are rarely enough to subsidize specialized, long-term medical care when severe neurodegenerative symptoms like dementia or CTE emerge decades down the line—long after their standard five-year post-NFL health insurance expired. Not to mention that positional risk is inversely related to market value: positions exposed to the highest volume of repetitive head impacts, such as running backs and interior linemen, are paid the least and have the highest turnover due to injury; hence they make the least money over their shorter careers.

The most tragic outcome, however, extends far beyond the NFL roster to the millions of youth, high school, and college athletes who don’t make it to the NFL or don’t achieve long-term financial success, yet still carry the game’s hidden cognitive costs. By celebrating and financially rewarding the NFL, millions of viewers validate a culture that encourages young people to dedicate their youth to tackle football, leading them to endure head trauma during their brain’s most critical developmental years. The cultural idolization alone contributes to millions choosing to gamble their lifelong neurological health, a gamble that doesn’t often pay out.