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OUTLETS DISAGREEWednesday 26 August 2026

Outlets disagree: Exact percentage of players with CTE among those studied: espn.com and mensjournal.com headline 25%, while nbcsports.com headlines 24.5%

espn.com; mensjournal.com; nbcsports.com

As published

5 pages captured at the time, in each outlet's own typography. Open one to read the copy held outside the publisher's control.

espn.com as published: Study: At least 25% of NFL players in sample had CTEespn.com2026-08-28 13:52:04foxnews.com as published: New research finds 1 in 4 NFL players could develop CTE in their lifetime: 'Should be a call to action'foxnews.com2026-08-26 12:17:22nbcsports.com as published: New study finds at least 24.5 percent of NFL players who died from 2016 to 2021 had CTEnbcsports.com2026-08-26 12:17:22newstribune.com as published: Study: At least 25 percent of NFL players in sample had CTEnewstribune.com2026-08-26 12:17:22timesofindia.indiatimes.com as published: At least 1 in 4 former NFL players had CTE at death, major study finds: What the new research meanstimesofindia.indiatimes.com2026-08-26 12:17:22

Attributed to no one

Quoted verbatim from each outlet's own page. This site records what was published and who it was attributed to. It does not assess whether the claim is true.

nbcsports.com

  • the league and The Athletic (owned and operated by the Times) reportedly discuss a content partnership

named elsewhere in the same article: The BMJ study (via John Branch reporting)

Same storyEarlier: A study published Tuesday in the British Medical Journal found that at least 25 percent…Each entry records what was published on its own date and is not edited afterwards.

What this entry found

  • OUTLETS DISAGREE

    Percentage of donated brains with CTE: newstribune.com states 91.5%, while timesofindia.indiatimes.com states 91%

    newstribune.com; timesofindia.indiatimes.com

  • ONLY ONE OUTLET HAD THIS

    nbcsports.com carried 8 details no other outlet reported.

    • Of the 878 players who died, 643 of the remaining players' brains were not studied for CTE
    • The New York Times published and heavily promoted multiple articles on the study's findings
    • John Branch of the New York Times reported on the study and raised the question of why OSHA has not become involved
    • Former OSHA chief Doug Parker told Branch 'I don't think that this would be abided in any industry'
    • Former OSHA head David Michaels called the CTE rate 'astoundingly high'
    • Another former OSHA official called the CTE rate 'apocalyptically high,' adding 'We never see things that are this dire'
    • Current OSHA management stated 'In most cases, OSHA does not take enforcement action with regard to professional athletes'
    • The NFL and the NFLPA are discussing a potential content partnership between the league and The Athletic (owned by the New York Times)
7independent outlets
What happened, for context

A study published in the British Medical Journal by researchers at Mass General Brigham, Boston University, and the Concussion & CTE Foundation found that at least 24.5–25 percent of NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Of 878 players who died during that period, 235 donated brains for study, and 215 were diagnosed with CTE. The researchers note the true prevalence may be significantly higher.

4 of 7 articles were readable. Headline only, no body text retrieved, for: foxnews.com, mensjournal.com, thehill.com. Nothing below is drawn from those outlets beyond their headline.

Who reported it

  • espn.comUNCLASSIFIED
  • foxnews.comINDEP
  • mensjournal.comUNCLASSIFIED
  • nbcsports.comUNCLASSIFIED
  • newstribune.comUNCLASSIFIED
  • thehill.comINDEP
  • timesofindia.indiatimes.comUNCLASSIFIED

References

  • espn.comStudy: At least 25% of NFL players in sample had CTEScreenshot as publishedOriginalcaptured 2026-08-28T13:52:04
  • foxnews.comNew research finds 1 in 4 NFL players could develop CTE in their lifetime: 'Should be a call to action'Screenshot as publishedOriginalcaptured 2026-08-26T12:17:22
  • mensjournal.comMajor Study Finds CTE in 25 Percent of Former NFL Players Who Died Between 2016 and 2021OriginalNo durable copy — do not citecaptured 2026-08-27T11:05:03
  • nbcsports.comNew study finds at least 24.5 percent of NFL players who died from 2016 to 2021 had CTEScreenshot as publishedOriginalcaptured 2026-08-26T12:17:22
  • newstribune.comStudy: At least 25 percent of NFL players in sample had CTEScreenshot as publishedOriginalcaptured 2026-08-26T12:17:22
  • thehill.comStudy suggests at least 25 percent of NFL players get CTEOriginalNo durable copy — do not citecaptured 2026-08-26T18:34:43
  • timesofindia.indiatimes.comAt least 1 in 4 former NFL players had CTE at death, major study finds: What the new research meansScreenshot as publishedOriginalcaptured 2026-08-26T12:17:22

Carried by multiple outlets

  • Study published by British Medical Journal (The BMJ) in 2026espn.com, nbcsports.com, newstribune.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com
  • Study conducted by Mass General Brigham, Boston University, and the Concussion & CTE Foundationnewstribune.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com
  • Study examined 878 NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021espn.com, nbcsports.com, newstribune.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com
  • CTE can only be diagnosed after deathespn.com, newstribune.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com
  • Of the 878 players who died during the period, 235 donated their brains for studynewstribune.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com
  • Of the brains studied, 215 were diagnosed with CTEnewstribune.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com
  • and 2 more, not shown

Reported by one outlet only

  • Study samples were drawn from donations made between 2008 and 2021, with 93% of those samples having been diagnosed with CTEonly espn.com
  • Dr. Daniel Daneshvar was the study's lead authoronly espn.com
  • Daneshvar stated the 25% figure is on the 'low end' and the maximum possible prevalence of CTE was around 97%only espn.com
  • The study drew on demographic data and information from death certificates to narrow the sample based on when donations were highestonly espn.com
  • Of the 878 players who died, 643 of the remaining players' brains were not studied for CTEonly nbcsports.com
  • The New York Times published and heavily promoted multiple articles on the study's findingsonly nbcsports.com

Reported unevenly

  • Exact percentage of players with CTE among those studied: espn.com and mensjournal.com headline 25%, while nbcsports.com headlines 24.5%stated by espn.com, mensjournal.com, nbcsports.com
  • Percentage of donated brains with CTE: newstribune.com states 91.5%, while timesofindia.indiatimes.com states 91%stated by newstribune.com, timesofindia.indiatimes.com