July 2026 · DIAGNOSE CTE II
Players stepping forward
Matt Hasselbeck went to Boston University for scans and testing in the $15M NIH study working to diagnose CTE in living people. More former players signed up after his visit.
WWE
Progress update · 2026
Your support. Real progress.
WWE.
Leading on brain health.
Brain-health training for every WWE talent. Landmark research. A HelpLine answering more calls than ever. Here's what your support helped to build, and why it matters.
A note of thanks, from Chris
Before I was Dr. Chris Nowinski, I was a WWE Superstar living the dream. Concussions ended my career because nobody knew then what we know now.
That's why this partnership means so much to me. By bringing concussion and CTE education to every talent, WWE has made brain safety part of the job. The performers coming up today get the knowledge to secure longevity in the best job in the world.
Your belief in our mission lets us stand beside athletes, veterans and families affected by concussion and CTE, and it sends a powerful message throughout entertainment. This update shares what that support made possible, and what comes next.
Thank you for being in our corner.
Chris Nowinski, PhD
Co-founder & CEO, Concussion & CTE Foundation
Training every talent
Every performer.
Every brain.
Now Chris is back at the Performance Center, standing at ringside, teaching the next generation what they need to know to make it to the top. And because of WWE, every talent in that room hears it.
Making this training available to all talent is bold. Few organizations in sports or entertainment have done it. WWE has helped pave the way, and the rest of the industry is watching.
The year in numbers
~75%
of former NFL players who died 2008–2023 estimated to have CTE, new BU-led study
1 to 2 million
estimated Americans living with CTE pathology
10,000+
families served
#1
Most-cited researchers on CTE
200+
Studies in leading medical journals
Research highlights
The science is moving fast
August 2026 · The BMJ
At least 1 in 4, a landmark we co-authored
With Mass General Brigham and Boston University, we found at least 1 in 4 former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE. It ran in The New York Times and on CBS, CNN, NPR and PBS.
September 2026 · Emory University
A first-of-its-kind medication study
We launched the first medication study for former football players with repeated head impacts, testing whether an FDA-approved anti-inflammatory can ease depression and memory symptoms.
October 2026 · JAMA Network Open
Nearly 75% of former NFL players had CTE
A Boston University–led study estimated that nearly three in four NFL players who died between 2008 and 2023 had signs of CTE, the highest estimate to date. Chris took the findings to CBS and beyond, explaining what it means for players and families.
Prevention update
The protocol, in four points
July 30 · National Athletic Trainers' Association
We hosted a webinar with NATA in which Dr. Cantu, Dr. Nowinski and Dr. Dan Daneshvar shared the latest research and practical steps to lower CTE risk. With experts at the BU CTE Center and Harvard Medical School, we created the first CTE fact sheets for athletes, parents and coaches, plus a 5-minute Team Talk Guide trainers can use before practice.
- 01
What CTE is
A brain disease linked to repeated hits to the head. Right now it can only be diagnosed after death.
- 02
CTE isn't the same as a concussion
Risk comes from the total number and force of head impacts over the years, including hits with no symptoms.
- 03
Cut unnecessary head contact
Teams can limit contact in practice and still help athletes reach their potential.
- 04
Avoid needless head contact
In drills, practice and play: don't lead with the head, and skip contact with a teammate's head that isn't part of the game.
What athletic trainers gain: the latest CTE research, practical steps to reduce risk in their work, and a foundation for serving as CTE educators in their communities. Our goal: athletic trainers lead culture change on CTE, just as they did with concussions.
Support when it counts
A HelpLine built for what's next
When the research makes headlines, people pick up the phone. Q3 brought our highest intake quarter ever.
To meet that need we welcomed Symone Gerren, LCSW, MPA, as Clinical Director of Patient and Family Services. She's growing the HelpLine from a referral service into ongoing support that stays with families, including WWE talent and alumni, over time.
Why it matters
The ones who give everything in the ring deserve everything outside it.
Taking care of your people isn't a side project. It's the standard. WWE has already shown what that looks like.