Ken Stabler’s family to donate brain for CTE research
By Chase Ruttig
Jun 9, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders helmet of defensive end Justin Tuck (not pictured) at minicamp at the Raiders practice facility. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
It was a sad day for the Raider Nation on Thursday when Ken Stabler passed away at the age of 69. A battle with cancer ending the life of the most legendary quarterback in the history of the Oakland Raiders franchise, an infamous figure who lived the reputation of the team at the time with hard partying and even harder play on the field on Sundays. Stabler earning the respect of many who mourned his death this past week and remembered the life of a true Raider.
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However the family of Stabler will be donating the quarterback’s brain for CTE research to see if that hard play during his career had any negative effects as the current research to see the effects of football is ongoing. A battle that Stabler was a part of when he was listed on the lawsuit of former players against the league for concussions injuries suffered during their playing careers.
ProFootballTalk reported that Stabler’s brain would be donated by his family as the quarterback’s part in trying to further the knowledge on the impact of concussions on those who played alongside him during his storied career will continue in death. Stabler’s family has also asked that those who want to support them during this time donate to the Stabler Foundation for colon cancer research and sports related head trauma.
From PFT:
"In 2012, quarterback Ken Stabler led a group of 74 plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the NFL for injuries suffered due to concussions while playing. Although the concussion litigation is close to being settled, research continues regarding the connection between football and long-term health consequences.To that end, Stabler’s family has announced that his brain and spinal cord will be donated to Boston University’s Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Center to support research for degenerative brain disease in athletes.The family has asked that, in lieu of flowers, donation be made to the XOXO Stabler Foundation to support research of colon cancer and sports-related head trauma. Additional information will be available at Stabler’s Facebook Fan page and via theXOXO Stabler Foundation."
Based on the current research surrounding CTE it is pretty likely that Stabler did suffer from concussion related problems after his playing career, especially as a hard running quarterback who took plenty of hits in the rough and physical period in which he became a legend in. Donating his brain to CTE will help further the mission in making the game safer for those who continue to play the game now that he has moved on. Hopefully one day concussions in football will be a lesser issue, but Stabler’s brain donation is just another step in solving the epidemic that has put a stain on the sport he loved.