CTE at 24: Kneeland’s case renews the warning about football's brain toll

Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, who died by suicide at 24 after a high-speed chase, was found to have Stage 1 chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), highlighting that football-related brain damage can begin early and accumulate over time. The piece argues there may be no safe upper limit to playing football for brain health, situates Kneeland’s case within a long history of CTE concerns in the NFL, and notes ongoing debates about youth participation and safety in the sport.