CTE’s a hell of a thing, yet we know surprisingly little about it. It stands for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, and you can kind of tell when someone has it, but often an autopsy is the only definitive way to diagnose it. That’s obviously not an option until it’s too late. You might be able to spot if someone’s experiencing anxiety, insomnia, memory loss, or exhibiting a lot of aggression. But again, that’s nothing definitive. Repeated concussions can bring them on, which is bad news for players in contact sports.

You might have heard comments about how widespread CTE is in the NFL. Executives associated with the NFL have refused to acknowledge this though. This has driven some players, both current and retired, to take up the issue.

How is Antonio Brown connected to CTE?

Antonio Brown is a retired wide receiver who spent most of his career playing for the Pittsburgh Steelers. He played his last game for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 2021, but left the field after stripping down and running into the locker rooms, after which the franchise ended their association with him. After other incidents of inappropriate behavior, he came out in 2023 claiming his erratic behavior was caused by the onset of CTE. He has since then started a project called CTESPN (mocking ESPN) to highlight the issue. Earlier today, he published a video on X, captioned “Sad But True,” speaking about the trauma of losing friends to the condition.

“When I see these types of experiences happening with players, you know, I just want to raise awareness about being a true human,” he said in the video, before going on to talk about his brand, “That’s why I started this CTESPN, to raise awareness and bring some consideration to the regular audience about the experiences football players are facing.” CTESPN seems to function mostly as a merch shop for pro-Trump t-shirts at the moment, with the occasional social media post about CTE.

While it’s certainly possible that Brown is earnest in his commitment to raising awareness, he is not often regarded seriously. Besides his political advocacy, Brown has also been mocking of other athletes who came out about CTE.

Who are Vontae Davis and Demaryius Thomas?

During the video, Brown brought up Vontae Davis and Demaryius Thomas, mourning their passing. Vontae Davis passed just earlier this year, found dead in his home in Florida at the age of 35. No official cause of death has been declared, though Brown clearly implies it was CTE. Davis was a former cornerback, playing for the Miami Dolphins, the Indianapolis Colts, and the Buffalo Bills. He even made two pro bowls with the Colts. He retired in the middle of his first game for the Bills in week 2 of the 2018 season. Davis said he “just didn’t feel right,” and never played another NFL game again.

Demaryius Thomas’ case is much more clear cut. A wide receiver best known for his time with the Denver Broncos, Thomas made five pro bowls and even won the Super Bowl in 2015. He had an excellent career, starting in nearly every game he played, regardless of franchise, until he was injured in a car crash in 2019, retiring officially in 2021. He would pass away of a seizure later that same year, later being diagnosed with CTE after he was autopsied.

CTE is a real tragedy, and awareness for it should be raised. It’s a shame it can’t find a better spokesperson though. It is a concern that should be addressed right from the college level and up. The future of the sport depends on it.

If you’re looking for some slightly lighter NFL content, our Think Tank Exclusive featuring Doug Sanders talks all about what’s going on with the NFL and NIL this year, be sure to check it out.