Pro football player Aaron Hernandez was with the New England Patriots, when the unthinkable happened.
In 2015, Aaron was convicted of killing his friend Odin Lloyd. 2 years later, while serving a life sentence, he committed suicide.
Investigations and documentaries share theories about Aaron’s actions. But one reason rises above the rest…
…a severe case of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Before his conviction, the people in Aaron’s life noticed his extreme mood swings and violent outbursts.
After his death, doctors discovered Aaron had CTE, a condition that forms in the brain after repeated head trauma. Aaron is one of multiple football players who suffer from CTE, and have either beaten or murdered others. Or harmed themselves.
CTE essentially destroys the brain, often causing someone affected to become uncharacteristically violent.
And it’s common in football, a sport that recruits players in minority communities. In 2017, a neuropathologist examined the brains of 111 NFL players, and 110 had CTE.
The connection between football and CTE is clear, and it doesn’t just affect pro athletes. The condition has been traced to players in high school
Before signing up, consider the life-long effects football can have on players and the people around them.
