Former Dallas Cowboys edge rusher Marshawn Kneeland was diagnosed with stage 1 chronic traumatic encephalopathy following a postmortem brain analysis. The finding was announced by his family and the Concussion & CTE Foundation.
Researchers at the Boston University CTE Center performed the tissue analysis on Kneeland, who died at age 24 last November from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Dr. Ann McKee, director of the Boston University CTE Center, stated that CTE has been found in nearly half of the athletes studied who died before age 30. Chris Nowinski, CEO of the Concussion & CTE Foundation, noted that current concussion protocols do not prevent CTE since it stems from repeated head impacts.
Kneeland died after a police chase that began with a traffic violation in the Frisco, Texas, area. His family said the diagnosis provides context about struggles he may have faced and aims to raise awareness for athletes in high-contact sports.
