NFL Concussion Settlement Grants Unrestricted Compensation For Players Suffering Brain Injuries

    All retired players who develop neurocognative disorders will receive medical benefits and financial compensation.

    Lindsey Adler
    by Lindsey Adler

    BuzzFeed News Reporter

    On Wednesday, the NFL reached a settlement in the ongoing class-action lawsuit by retired players who have suffered from brain injuries as a result of their time in the league.

    Eric Thayer / Reuters / Reuters

    In August, the NFL's limit of financial responsibility was capped at $765 million for over 4,800 former players.

    Today's agreement will grant immediate assistance for players who have developed, or believe they may develop, a cognitive injury.

    Mike Blake / Reuters / Reuters

    The NFL will also provide $10 million for the costs of education about concussion prevention.

    Today's agreement reaffirms the NFL's commitment to provide help to those retired players and their families who are in need, and to do so without the delay, expense and emotional cost associated with protracted litigation. We are eager to move forward with the process of court approval and implementation of the settlement

    Evidence of a correlation between taking hard hits in the NFL and the development of CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy) has accumulated in recent years.

    Jeff Siner/Charlotte Observer / MCT

    Recent brain scans of NFL Hall of Famer Joe DeLamielleure, who was diagnosed with CTE, the brain injury that is affecting so many former football players.