The doctor who inspired the movie Concussion, Bennet Omalu, said Thursday “there is no safe blow to your head.”
Pete Marovich / Getty Images
The neuropathologist recently portrayed by Will Smith in the movie Concussion, said Thursday night he believes that professional football players have a more than 90% chance of suffering the neurodegenerative disease known as CTE.
Dr. Bennet Omalu, who first discovered chronic traumatic encephalopathy in the brain of a football player, was speaking with reporter Stone Phillips at a ticketed event at the Nourse Theater in San Francisco, just 2 miles from where Super Bowl 50 events have been set up for the week.
Symptoms of CTE include memory loss, recklessness, and dementia. Currently, it can only be diagnosed conclusively post-mortem. Earlier this week, late Raiders legend Ken Stabler was diagnosed with CTE. Other recent diagnoses include 27-year-old safety Tyler Sash and Hall of Famer Frank Gifford.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Teddy Bridgewater lies on the field after a hit.
Ann Heisenfelt / AP
In September 2015, PBS reported that CTE had been found in 87 of 91 former NFL players examined by researchers at Boston University. However, the sample size was small and researchers told PBS that most of the donated brains came from players who'd experienced symptoms while alive, compelling them to request their brains be studied.
During the 90-minute discussion Thursday night, Omalu spoke in unflinching terms about the disease and the NFL's attempts to conceal its connection to their sport. At times, Omalu spoke so rapidly and appeared so impassioned about his work he nearly slid out of his seat.
Omalu, who was born in Nigeria, said he was stunned when the NFL tried to deny the connection between hits to the head in the game and CTE.
"I thought I was back in Nigeria!" Omalu said.
On Thursday, Omalu said NFL executives have "never, ever" reached out to him.
"I'd respect it if they could look me in the eye and tell me I'm wrong," he said.
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