Formula 1 driver Carlos Sainz expressed shock over the dangers of NFL concussions after discussing the issue with Tom Brady and watching the film Concussion, which delves into the devastating brain injuries faced by football players. The conversation highlighted growing anxieties surrounding head trauma in American football, especially as the sport continues to grapple with its dark history of suppressing these health risks. Sainz admitted he was unaware of the severity of football-related brain injuries, a sentiment not uncommon among European sports fans unfamiliar with the NFL’s ongoing concussion crisis.
As players in the NFL routinely face hits that lead to visits to the medical tent for concussion evaluations, fears about long-term brain damage persist. Athletes like Chris Olave and Tua Tagovailoa have repeatedly undergone concussion assessments, underscoring the reality that head trauma remains a widespread concern. Sainz’s recent exposure to the subject through the film starring Will Smith prompted a deeper conversation with Brady, who offered his own perspective on the issue.
Brady acknowledged the inherent physical danger of football, noting that a concussion is more than just a simple hit to the head.
Well, it’s a lot of physical contact like head-to-head, but I think there’s a lot more that, in my opinion, plays into it, like diet, nutrition, recovery,
he explained. Brady emphasized that many players have long careers without enduring brain damage, citing thousands who have played for 15 years with no lasting effects. He credited his commitment to self-care, particularly through his TB12 diet, comparing his body maintenance to that of an F1 car. This approach, he suggested, is key to sustaining health despite the sport’s physical toll.
Despite Brady’s confident assertions, recent research challenges the notion that most players escape without injury. In September 2024, a groundbreaking study from Harvard Medical School revealed that about one-third of nearly 2,000 former NFL players believe they have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma. The findings painted a grim picture of the mental and physical struggles faced by these athletes.
The study found that players suspecting they have CTE reported significantly higher levels of cognitive difficulties, depression, mood instability, chronic pain, headaches, and hormonal problems such as low testosterone. Perhaps most alarmingly, close to 25% of those who believed they had CTE also reported experiencing suicidal thoughts, compared to only 5% among players who did not hold such concerns. This stark disparity highlights the profound impact that suspected brain injury has on players’ quality of life and mental health.
The contrast between Brady’s optimistic outlook and the study’s sobering data reflects the complex and conflicted reality of football in 2024. While the thrill of NFL stardom offers fame, fortune, and glory, the long-term cost of brain trauma raises urgent ethical and medical questions. For players, families, and fans alike, the struggle to balance the rewards of the game with its hidden dangers has never been more intense.
Carlos Sainz’s reaction to the NFL concussion crisis underscores how even outside observers, drawn by sport but distant from its culture, can be shaken by the revelations about football’s risks. As awareness grows, more athletes may face the difficult choice of pursuing a career in a sport that can threaten their mental faculties later in life. Whether improved protocols, medical advances, or changes in the game itself will reduce those risks remains a pressing concern. What is certain is that the conversation sparked by Sainz’s encounter with Brady and the ongoing research into concussions will continue to shape the future of football and its players’ health for years to come.
