When post-concussion syndrome forced ex-NFL star Merril Hoge into early retirement in 1994, research on football-related head injuries wasn’t a priority.
At the time, football was heavily influenced by a tough guy culture, and little was known about concussions and their potentially dangerous effects. Then the tragic death of Hoge’s ex-teammate Mike Webster in 2002 launched a wave of fear after an autopsy determined he suffered from an obscure brain disease—chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
The media pounced. Concern over player safety soon became a war on football at every level, with one scientist even declaring youth football “child abuse.”
Merril and Dr. Willeumier discuss his new book, BRAINWASHED, in this important two-part series that explores the scientific advancements in the area of CTE research.
Brainwashed: Ex-NFL Star Merril Hoge Explains the Bad Science Behind CTE, Part 2
Ex-NFL star Merril Hoge continues the conversation with Dr. Willeumier, discussing the truth about CTE.
Additional Info
- Segment Number: 1
- Audio File: your_brain_health/ybh017.mp3
- Featured Speaker: Merril Hoge, Ex-NFL Player
- Book Title: Brainwashed: The Bad Science Behind CTE and the Plot to Destroy Football
- Guest Website: Merril Hoge
- Guest Bio: Merril Hoge is a former professional American football player, who currently serves as a head coach for Your Call Football. He played eight seasons at running back for the NFL's Pittsburgh Steelers and Chicago Bears, retiring after the 1994 season. He was also a football analyst for ESPN television, beginning in 1995 and regularly contributes to ESPN.com and to ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown, Monday Night Football and Super Bowl and NFL Draft coverage.
- Length (mins): 15:34
- Waiver Received: No
- Host: Kristen Willeumier, PhD
Published in
Your Brain Health
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