On Tuesday, the Concussion & CTE Foundation revealed that Hall of Fame defensive tackle Steve McMichael had stage 3 CTE, following his death in April 2025. His wife, Misty McMichael, emphasized the link between CTE and ALS, advocating for research after donating his brain. While the NFL has acknowledged concussion risks and changed rules, it’s unclear if these changes have reduced CTE or ALS rates among players. The need for a reliable CTE test in living players remains critical to understanding the long-term impacts of the sport.
