The NFL’s concussion crisis is heading to the big screen. Today, the football site MMQB debuted the trailer for a film titled Concussion, out on Christmas Day.
It stars Will Smith as Bennet Omalu, the forensic pathologist who first discovered the neurodegenerative disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Found in the brains of football players, it’s the result of repetitive brain damage over time, causing depression, dementia, and other behavioral changes.
Check out the trailer here:
Since Omalu’s discovery in 2002, CTE has been found in dozens of deceased football players. The problem is starting to be taken more seriously, evidenced by this film, as well as players like Chris Borland.
Borland was one of the top NFL rookies last year, showing a lot of promise and the potential of a long career. He shocked the football world when he retired from the game because of concerns about the long-term effects of repetitive head trauma. While most players retire from age, Borland retires before his prime at 24, valuing his health over anything else.
Players like Borland, and this film, will lead many to question whether football can ever be a truly safe sport.
Photo credit: Featureflash Photo Agency/Shutterstock
