New Study Finds Suicide Rates Rising Among Former NFL Players

Recent research from the Football Players Health Study at Harvard University earch-explores-rising-suicide-rates-among-former-nfl-playersshows a sharp increase in suicide rates among former National Football League (NFL) players over the past decade — a trend not seen in other major professional sports.

The study examined death records of retired NFL, Major League Baseball (MLB), and National Basketball Association (NBA) players from 1979 through 2019. While suicide rates were similar across all three leagues prior to 2011, from 2011 to 2019 former NFL players died by suicide at a rate more than 2.5 times higher than their MLB and NBA counterparts.

Researchers say the reasons for this increase aren’t fully understood, but they note several possible contributing factors: growing public and scientific attention to brain injury and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) since 2011; the potential influence of widely publicized suicides; changes in how suicides are recorded; and mental health pressures tied to physical symptoms and identity loss after a football career.

The Harvard team emphasizes that many symptoms often linked to CTE — including mood changes, memory trouble, and irritability — can actually stem from treatable medical conditions such as sleep apnea, chronic pain, hypertension, and hormonal imbalances. They urge increased screening, support programs, and access to treatment for former players to help mitigate suicide risk.

This research adds to a growing conversation about long-term health impacts of professional football and highlights the importance of addressing both physical and psychological wellbeing for athletes after their playing days are over.