Antonio Brown bizarrely asks Le’Veon Bell if he has CTE

Super Bowl winning wide receiver Antonio Brown shared his view about what CTE is to former NFL RB Le'Veon Bell.

Antonio Brown bizarrely asks Le’Veon Bell if he has CTE

Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell (Image via IMAGO)

Former Pittsburgh Steelers Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell made an appearance together on Brown’s CETSPN podcast in August 2024. The All Pro wide receiver didn’t pass up on the opportunity to ask Bell, if he had CTE or chronic traumatic encephalopathy?

CTE is a disease caused by mental degeneration in those who have had repeated concussions and traumatic brain injuries. There have been multiple cases of NFL players contracting CTE over the years, and the consensus is that Brown may be one of the unfortunate souls.

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Bell, a little surprised by the sudden question, responded with a smile. After a brief shake of the head, Bell replied that he didn’t believe Brown had CTE.

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The Super Bowl winner, on the other hand, has repeatedly tried to allude to the fact that he has CTE on social media through various explicit photographs or by finding himself dealing with the police because of domestic violence charges.

During the interview, Brown floated his own theory about CTE. To him, CTE doesn’t cause any ‘brain damage’ but rather something even more serious.

I feel like people try to frame CTE as a concussion you may have, but yo, we had a bunch of concussions. You know what I’m saying, like, you could live after a concussion.

Antonio Brown told Bell

What does Antonio Brown perceive CTE as?

Bell listened to Brown’s argument closely. Despite nodding his head to Brown’s argument, the retired running back didn’t alter his definition of CTE. He stuck by the medical explanation of the disease causing ‘brain damage.’

Antonio Brown bizarrely asks Le’Veon Bell if he has CTE
Antonio Brown during his Buccaneers days (Image via IMAGO)

Brown continued, adding to his theory. The 36-year-old said that CTE is a collection of past traumas, manifesting together as a single disease.

I feel like it’s a characteristic of traumas that we all as people go through. Any kid having to go through that is building some kind of trauma because now, as a kid, you just become more aggressive. You develop anger.

Antonio Brown said

Brown added that legendary Steelers players James Harrison caused him CTE. Harrison allegedly hit Brown with an illegal helmet in his possession, causing him a form of brain damage. Harrison has never mentioned such an encounter, and it’s loosely believed that ex-Cincinnati Bengals Vontaze Burfict caused Brown’s CTE.

In 2016, during a game between the Bengals and the Steelers, Burfict crashed into Brown late after he failed to keep hold of a pass from Ben Roethlisberger.

Burfict later denied any malicious intent in his challenge and blamed the moment on Brown, pointing out that the receiver took advantage of fumbling the ball by pinning the blame on him.

Nevertheless, Brown has never been the same since then. He left the Steelers in 2018, bouncing around from Raiders to Patriots, and ended his career with the Buccaneers. He is currently fathering seven children and considers himself an advocate of athletes who have CTE.

Related: Joe Burrow’s Bengals dangerously treading hot waters with defensive stars on the move