MATT HASSELBECK VOLUNTEERS FOR CTE RESEARCH AT BOSTON UNIVERSITY

Former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck has volunteered to participate in research into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and has committed to donating his brain to science. Hasselbeck, aged 50, recently underwent a battery of scans and tests at Boston University to assess the effects of repeated head impacts sustained during his 18-season NFL career. His decision follows a $15 million grant awarded by the National Institutes of Health to Boston University's CTE Centre in November 2025 for the DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project-II.

The research aims to develop methods for diagnosing CTE in living patients, rather than only after death as currently occurs. CTE is a degenerative brain disease associated with repeated blows to the head that can cause memory loss, depression and mood disturbances. Hasselbeck stated that he wanted to support the research because his teammates, particularly those who played defensive and special teams positions, endured more significant impacts than he did as a quarterback. He said: "They need guys like me. They need people who are feeling good to step up to the plate and volunteer."

Official figures from the Boston University CTE Centre indicate that of 376 former NFL players examined in 2023, 345 players—91.7 per cent—were diagnosed with CTE post-mortem. Hasselbeck's participation in the research programme reflects broader efforts within the sports and medical communities to understand the long-term neurological effects of American football. His involvement represents an attempt to advance diagnostic capabilities for a condition that has affected a substantial proportion of former professional players.