Just last week, doctors at the Boston University School of Medicine revealed that former Giants player Tyler Sash, who died last year at the age of 27, suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy prior to his death. Now, they have also confirmed that Raiders great Ken Stabler suffered from CTE after retiring from the NFL as well.
According to ESPN’s Outside the Lines, Stabler—who died last July at the age of 69 (the photo above is from a ceremony the Raiders held for him shortly after his death)—was suffering from Stage 3 CTE in his final years. His brain and spinal cord were donated to the Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center after his death, and doctors found that CTE had damaged Stabler’s brain extensively.
“He had very substantial issues,” Dr. Ann McKee, a professor of neurology and pathology at BU, told OTL. “They were widespread. They were very classic. There was no question about the diagnosis. And in some parts of the brain, they were very well established, meaning that he’d had it probably for quite some time.”
Stabler’s wife spoke with OTL and revealed that Stabler suffered from headaches and issues with his memory prior to his death. He passed away as a result of complications stemming from colon cancer. You can go here to read OTL’s full report.
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[via ESPN]
