NFL Career Years and Your Health

There’s a common perception that the longer you played professional football, the more health problems you will have later in life.

For example, the number of seasons played in the NFL was used as a simple, but reliable metric to describe football playing experience in health studies. Now, research from our study examines the relationship between length of career and later-life health. Specifically, players with the shortest (played seven or fewer seasons) and longest (12 or more seasons) were the least likely to report health conditions. Players with mid-range career lengths (8-11 seasons) were the most likely to report health issues.

These new findings are relevant for you, former players, as well as clinicians, epidemiologists, and other researchers concerned with the health of former and current NFL players.

What did we learn?

• We found that those with mid-range career lengths (8-11 seasons) were most likely to report later-life health issues such as:
  • Chronic pain
  • Arthritis
  • Depression and/or anxiety
  • Cognitive symptoms (issues with memory, concentration, and thinking)
• Players with seven or fewer seasons, or more than 12, were less likely to report those conditions

We were curious to know whether those with mid-range career durations were less likely to report football experiences that are considered harmful to health:

• Concussion symptoms during football play or practice
• Use of performance-enhancing drugs
• Number of mid-career surgeries
• Average number of snaps played per game

We observed that former players who either had the shortest or longest careers also reported fewer concussion symptoms, fewer mid-career surgeries, and fewer snaps played. They were also less likely to use performance-enhancing drugs.

What This Means for Players

Regardless of how long you played professional football, consider taking these key steps to manage your health— now and as you age:

• If you played 8 to 11 seasons, don’t panic! The health conditions that were more commonly reported by this group are treatable. Your doctors and other healthcare providers can help.
• If you played more than 12 seasons, the duration of your career won’t necessarily impact your health. Be proactive about your health and remember that many conditions affecting former players are treatable. Often these conditions lead to cognitive or other symptoms commonly ascribed to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition that can only be diagnosed after death. Please see some resources below which will help you find support for these concerns.

What This Means for Clinicians and Researchers

These results have important implications for those who study and treat former NFL players:

• Assumptions of good or poor health based on the length of a former player’s professional career may not be as informative as other important metrics such as reported concussion symptoms, number of career surgeries, and others.
• Conversations about neurodegenerative disease and CTE should not be prioritized over diagnosing, managing, and treating conditions that are common to former players and which may cause cognitive symptoms. For example, chronic pain, depression, and anxiety are treatable conditions that may cause similar symptoms and impact your quality of life.
• Those reading or conducting analyses on the health of former players should be cautious in interpreting football exposure metrics that assume more years of play means more exposure.

Further Resources & Action Steps

Speak to your doctor about your pain and/or musculoskeletal symptoms, heart, brain, and hormone health, and your sleep. Lifestyle changes (e.g., exercise, diet) and medications can improve your health. Use our checklist designed specifically for former players when speaking with your healthcare provider.

• If you think you may be experiencing symptoms of cognitive impairment, talk to your primary care physician (PCP) to request a comprehensive neurocognitive evaluation from a neurologist or highly trained specialist. If you don’t currently have a doctor, see The Trust (Powered by the NFLPA) or check MyHealthFinder to search for a physician in your area.
• Sleep apnea or other sleep problems may affect cognition and mood. Check out this resource on sleep apnea and consider consulting your doctor about a sleep evaluation that may help you to learn more about your own sleep.
• Medical/Wellness Assessment from The Trust (Powered by the NFLPA)
  • Brain and Body Assessment is an integrated and individually-tailored assessment offered by premiere medical institutions for players to obtain a thorough, in-depth evaluation of their overall health. Following the assessment, players will receive a recommendation containing a plan of action that each player can follow after his visit.
• The Players Assistance & Counseling Services is a benefit that provides eligible former players and their families with up to eight free counseling sessions a year for matters ranging from family/marital concerns to depression. You can call (866) 421-8628 or visit their website.
• NFL Life Line is a free, independent and confidential phone consultation service available to former players and their families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. The Life Line is run by professionals who are trained to assist individuals who are seeking resources for mental or physical health concerns or who are experiencing personal or emotional crises. Call (800) 506-0078 or visit their website to chat with a trained counselor.
• Know Your Numbers: It is important to monitor your blood pressure on a regular basis, either at your doctor’s office or by using at-home blood pressure cuffs, and discuss the results with your doctor.
• Hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes at any age can have long-lasting implications for heart and brain health. It is important to be proactive about maintaining healthy blood pressure through exercise, regular sleep, maintaining a healthy weight and diet, as well following medication-related, and lifestyle recommendations from your healthcare providers. See recommendations from the American Heart Association for maintaining a healthy blood pressure.
• If you are concerned about your heart health, do not hesitate to contact your PCP, or another medical care provider. You may also be able to find a cardiologist through The TRUST powered by the NFLPA (check your eligibility).

Learn more about our research and prior results.

If you have questions about this information, please email our team.

If you are in distress or require immediate assistance, please contact the NFL Lifeline at 1-800-506-0078 or visit their website to chat with a trained counselor.