NFL Hall of Famer and "Monday Night Football" broadcaster Frank Gifford, who died in August of natural causes at the age of 84, suffered from the concussion-related brain disease Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy — commonly know as CTE — his family revealed Wednesday in a statement.
Before Frank was a renowned sportscaster, he was a player for the Giants. Unfortunately, his time playing football could be what lead to a degenerative brain disease he suffered from called CTE, Kathie Lee told TMZ on November 25.
The family cited tests done on Gifford's brain following his death as confirmation that he had been suffering from the effects of CTE, which is believed to be the result of repeated head trauma and has been linked to memory loss, dementia and depression.
In order to try to learn more about the illness and help cure it for other players in the future, Kathie Lee has donated her late husband’s brain to science.
The Gifford family called donating Frank’s brain to science a “difficult decision.”
“We decided to disclose our loved one’s condition to honor Frank’s legacy of promoting player safety dating back to his involvement in the formation of the NFL Players Association in the 1950s,” they said. “His entire adult life Frank was a champion for others, but especially for those without the means or platform to have their voices heard.”
CTE has been buzzed about lately due to the film Concussion, starring Will Smith, set for release on Dec. 25. The film follows the man who first linked the disease to repeated concussions caused by playing football, and the leagues swift action against him to hide it.
It seems that the NFL is becoming more transparent about the issue, and trying to protect players.
The Giffords stated that Frank had spent the final years of his life studying the connection between repetitive head trauma and “its associated cognitive and behavioral symptoms” — the effects of which he “experienced firsthand,” they said.
