American Football: The Truth

Many people love to watch the famous game of American Football. It’s the number one sport in North America, with a fan base that spans the globe — from Canada, Germany, and Great Britain to Mexico, Japan, Australia, and beyond (source: ABC News). The Super Bowl remains the most-watched television event in US history.

But a film we watched changed our entire view of the sport — from admiring it to feeling deeply concerned.

The Game-Changer: Concussion (2015)

Have you seen Concussion? It’s a powerful movie based on a real exposé (a report that reveals something hidden or shocking) called Game Brain by journalist Jeanne Marie Laskas. The film stars Will Smith as Dr. Bennet Omalu, a Nigerian-American forensic pathologist who discovered a brain condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in American football players. The NFL, as the movie shows, tried hard to suppress his research.

Will Smith’s performance is gripping. He even received a Golden Globe nomination. But despite the strong message and top-tier acting, the movie didn’t make the waves it should’ve.

“I thought Concussion would have a bigger impact,” Will Smith said in an interview with The Independent. “I knew it would be hard because people love the game, but the science is so overwhelming… I was surprised that people were absolutely like, ‘Nope, I’m not stopping watching football, so I don’t want to know.’”

What Is CTE?

CTE is a brain condition linked to repeated blows to the head. It can lead to dementia, memory loss, personality changes, aggression, depression, and even suicidal thoughts.

The Alzheimer’s Association lists signs of CTE as:

• Difficulty thinking and remembering

• Changes in mood and behavior

• Increased aggression and depression

CTE develops over time, often showing up years after repeated head trauma — like the kind football players experience every time they’re tackled or blocked.

“A concussion is a type of traumatic brain injury caused by a bump, blow, or jolt to the head—or by a hit to the body that causes the head and brain to move rapidly back and forth,” explains the CDC.

This motion can cause the brain to literally bounce inside the skull, damaging brain cells and altering brain chemistry. That’s not a small thing. That’s serious trauma!

A Decade of Denial

Dr. Omalu’s research faced harsh criticism and outright denial by the NFL. Writer Mike Freeman said:

“If the NFL had taken Omalu’s work more seriously, maybe some of the players who took their lives would not have. Maybe they would have been better prepared or supported in facing their illness.”

Let that sink in…

From 2002 to 2012, Omalu’s findings were attacked. Yet over time, more evidence emerged. The CTE Center at Boston University examined the brains of 79 deceased NFL players and found CTE in 76 of them. That’s 96%!

Many of these players died by suicide or experienced dramatic personality changes after retirement.

Eventually, the NFL couldn’t ignore the data any longer. In 2009, under Congressional pressure, the league admitted CTE was a problem. Since then, it’s made some changes — new rules to reduce concussions, better diagnosis protocols, and donations to research. But is it enough?

Experts don’t think so. Because here’s the kicker: scientists believe even mild, repeated impacts (that don’t cause visible concussions) can still cause CTE over time.

In fact, a 2018 study showed that the younger players start contact football, the sooner they may develop CTE symptoms later in life — even if those symptoms aren’t more severe.

Hollywood Softened the Blow

The version of Concussion we saw wasn’t the one originally written. After leaked Sony emails revealed concerns over legal backlash from the NFL, parts of the script were edited. Mentions of NFL commissioners Roger Goodell and Paul Tagliabue were toned down or cut. According to The New York Times, filmmakers removed “most of the bite” from the movie for legal reasons.

Director Peter Landesman said changes were made to keep the story as accurate as possible while avoiding legal attacks from the NFL.

But even then, the truth still got through — if you’re willing to see it.

What Now?

So, knowing what we know — that players are risking life-altering brain damage for entertainment — what do we do?

• Do we still cheer on the game?

• Do we encourage our kids to play?

• Do we shrug and look away?

I’m not here to tell you what to do. But I am asking you to think. And if this information moved you the way it did us, please share it. Conversations like this might just help protect someone’s future — or even save a life.

Because sometimes, the truth hurts — but ignoring it hurts more.

Sources: ABC News, Wikipedia, Alzheimer’s Association, CDC, Bleacher Report, Cinema Blend, Vox, The Independent, New York Times, Boston University CTE Center.

👉 Want to read more eye-opening pieces like this? Check out our company warnings category for more real-life exposés and behind-the-scenes truths.