Paul Kirk III
What The Game Took From Them
Print media
We always hear about what the players gave to the game or what the game gave to the players, but we never hear about what the game took from the players. CTE stands for Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, which is a brain degeneration caused by repeated head trauma. Many players who play or have played in the NFL suffer from CTE. Rule changes happen every year to help protect the players but the issue of CTE is never addressed. Football is a physical sport and injuries are to be expected, but everyone could do a better job at recognizing the effects of CTE. My thesis project is titled “What The Game Took From Them” because I am highlighting players that have suffered from CTE. Bringing awareness to CTE is important to be because I am an athlete myself and I have seen people suffer from head trauma firsthand. I think it’s important to be aware of the risks of playing football because it can cause serious brain trauma. I decided to create playing cards because they are currently regaining popularity and it’s an easy way to reach the younger generation and their parents. I chose to not highlight the stats of players but more the legal issues and such after they stepped away from the game of football. There are many side effects to CTE, and these take a toll on the players. With this project, I hope to bring awareness to CTE and the dangers on repeated head trauma.