For the first time, top NFL official admits link between football and brain disorders

During a roundtable discussion convened by the House Government and Commerce Committee on Monday, a senior NFL official acknowledged that there is a link between playing football and developing degenerative brain disease later in life.

The admission by Jeff Miller, executive vice president for health and safety policy, is believed to be the first of its kind from a senior NFL official, NBC News reports. The committee is investigating concussions in sports and the military, and Miller brought up research from Boston University's Dr. Ann McKee, which found that 87 out of 91 former NFL players tested positive for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE. Miller said while he's not a doctor, "Dr. McKee's research shows that a number of retired NFL players were diagnosed with CTE, so the answer to" the question of whether there is a link between football and degenerative brain disorders "is certainly yes." CTE can only be diagnosed after death, and is believed to be caused by repeated head trauma.

NFL officials have previously said that football can cause concussions, but as recently as last month, a member of the NFL's neck, head, and spine committee denied during a Super Bowl event that there is a link between CTE and playing football.

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