Family of ex-NFL cornerback, who shot six people, is suing the league over head injuries that eventually led to CTE

Adams was diagnosed with CTE after his demise.

Family of ex-NFL cornerback, who shot six people, is suing the league over head injuries that eventually led to CTE

Phillip Adams (via AP)

As much as the game of football is entertaining, it is also outright dangerous. Physical contact is an inevitable part of the game and as history has shown us, years of taking hard hits tend to have a negative impact on the mental well-being of players. While there have been many tragic stories of players ending their lives, ruining their careers, and resorting to crime due to CTE, none is as tragic as the story of Phillip Adams.

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The former NFL player shot six people including his doctor Robert and his wife Barbara Leslie at their residence in Rock Hill, South Carolina, in 2021 right beside their grandchildren aged nine and five years respectively. In addition to this, he shot James Lewis and Robert Shook, two men working to repair the air conditioning at the doctor’s residence. When Adams’ brain was studied after his death, he was found to have an unusual and accelerated case of chronic traumatic encephalopathy or CTE.

Now, the family of Phillip Adams is filing a case against the NFL accusing the league of being negligent in educating Adams about the dangers of head trauma and its failure to ensure that players are protected better. The suit was originally filed against the South Carolina State University but now, his family’s lawyers will be amending the complaint to include the NFL as per Sky News.

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A study by Boston University diagnosed 92% of former NFL players with CTE

Phillip Adams played in the league for multiple teams between 2010-16 ranging from the San Francisco 49ers to the New England Patriots. He was a defensive back in the league. His father, Alonzo Adams believes his son was a good person but due to football, he became a different person altogether.

Phillip Adams
Phillip Adams (via BBC)

CTE is unfortunately more prevalent among football players. It is not easy to diagnose it either until it is too late. Research conducted by Boston University found that CTE exists in an estimated 92 percent of former NFL players.

The study looked at the brains of 376 deceased players, out of which, 345 of them were diagnosed with CTE. It is a real risk and the fact that it can lead some players to take their own lives or the lives of others is scary.

Football’s popularity continues to soar despite these numbers and casualties. The league has taken precautions in attempting to avoid unnecessary physical contact between players but in the bigger picture, the steps taken by them are insignificant. CTE is not just found in players in the NFL but even players at the High School and Collegiate level. There is a disturbing link between head injuries and the resultant madness it gives rise to in a person.

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