Overview

• KFF and ESPN have released comprehensive findings and methodology from a representative survey of 546 of the 1,532 players from the 1988 NFL season, with data collected Oct. 17–Nov. 30, 2024, and a ±3 percentage-point margin of error.
• Nearly every player reports pain in the past three months, with half experiencing daily chronic pain, and large proportions report disability and cognitive decline at rates exceeding those of American men of similar age.
• Black players in the cohort are significantly more likely than white players to report serious long-term health problems, revealing pronounced racial disparities in post-career outcomes.
• About nine in ten respondents say their NFL careers had positive impacts on their finances, later career prospects and relationships and indicate they would choose to play again despite health challenges.
• Researchers achieved a 40% response rate among living players and conducted proxy interviews for 128 deceased athletes to ensure the survey accurately reflects the demographics of the 1988 player cohort.