The average life expectancy of an American football NFL player has been reported to be very low, merely 53 to 59 years depending on playing position.[1]
A selfish and morally bankrupt management of the NFL by billionaire owners who exploit players, cheerleaders, taxpayers, and fans, results in a complete disregard for the long-term health of participants. NFL owners do little to provide for their victims.
In the first part of 2022 alone, 5 NFL players died prematurely: Jeff Gladney (age 25), Shane Olivea (around 40), Jaylon Ferguson (less than 30 years old), Junior Siavii (around 40), and Dwayne Haskins Jr (less than 30).[2]
"Football players at greater risk of premature death than baseball players: study," finding a 26% higher mortality.[3]
Here is growing list of NFL players and enthusiasts who, despite being above average in wealth and intelligence, prematurely declined in their health and/or died younger than the average American:
NFL Player or Enthusiast | date of declining health and/or death |
---|---|
Walter Payton, one of the greatest running backs ever | died at age 46 from a rare liver disease[4] |
Wade Wilson, quarterback and then NFL coach | died at 60[5] |
Gale Sayers, one of the greatest running backs ever, whose magnificent elusive running was compared with ballet | dementia diagnosis at age 70, passed away at age 77[6] |
Tom Dempsey, record-setting placekicker | dementia by about age 65, and passed away from COVID-19 at age 73[7] |
Dwight Clark, star wide receiver and then NFL executive | developed Lou Gehrig's disease, died at 61 |
Tommy Nobis, "Mr. Falcon" who constantly watched football | declined mentally for years, developed CTE,[8] died at 74[9] |
Pat Bowlen, owner and constant fan of the Denver Broncos | died at age 75 after having Alzheimer's disease for more than 5 years[10] |
Lyle Alzado, 15-year star defensive end in the NFL | died at age 43 of a brain lymphoma[11] |
Junior Seau, star linebacker (posthumously inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame) | died by suicide at age 43 via running his car off the road and down a steep cliff; family stated that he had shown signs of rage, which could either be due to steroid use (not uncommon among professional athletes in general) or CTE (discovered during his autopsy) |
Jack Tatum, hard-hitting safety for the Raiders who paralyzed an opponent wide receiver with an extremely violent hit[12] | died at age 61 of a heart attack; had toes and his leg amputated below the knee while in his 50s |
Aaron Hernandez, tight end for the New England Patriots | possibly committed multiple murders, and was convicted for one. Committed suicide at 27. |
Jim Sweeney, offensive lineman started 158 consecutive games for the Jets, then coached | died at age 60[13] |
Vincent Jackson, 12 years in the NFL as a wide receiver including 3 times as a Pro Bowler. | died at age 38[14] |
Franco Harris, NFL Hall of Famer and hero in the “most significant play in the history of the game.”[15] | died at age 72[15] |
Ronnie Hillman, running back 2012-2016, mostly for the Denver Broncos including winning a Super Bowl. | died at age 31 from a form of kidney cancer.[16] |
Shane Olivea, started 57 of 60 games as a lineman for San Diego | died at age 40, contributing cause was obesity.[17] |
Jessie Lemonier, ex-lineman in the NFL for the Detroit Lions | died at age 25.[18] |
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Liberal denial disputes the above. Supposedly a 2012 study reported that retired NFL players have a lower mortality rate than men in the general population.[19] Retired NFL players sometimes have significant wealth and there is a positive correlation between wealth and longer life.[20]
Categories: [NFL] [National Football League]