A Football Coach Confronts His Son’s C.T.E. Diagnosis

The New York Times
The New York Times
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Published 2023-08-28
Football gave the University of Maryland Coach Michael Locksley a scholarship, a family and a career. But it also likely contributed to his son’s C.T.E. diagnosis.

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All Comments (21)
  • @hendrixavery3988
    I wasn’t expecting this man to leave his job or anything but letting your grandsons play contact ball before high school threw me for a loop.
  • @karenavey2183
    A major hit in middle school is a concussion! How could they not take this more seriously?
  • @nancyloftus6872
    One of my sons wanted to play but wasn't big enough and by the time he had grown, he'd lost interest...and I'm forever grateful.
  • @Rhade15
    Wouldn’t participate in a contact sport for all the money in the world
  • @opalessence4818
    What amazing, loving parents! I’m so sorry for the loss of your beautiful son. Please don’t blame yourselves. You didn’t know. We used to not know of the harm caused by alcohol and tobacco. Just like these substances, which are illegal to sell to minors, we now know that football endangers the health of minors via traumatic brain injury (TBI) and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). When we know better, we do better. When will tackle football 🏈 for minors be outlawed? Do we stand for protecting our youth or entertainment through sports?
  • @_i_am_unceded
    Screw simulated war competition. It only teaches us to reward the worst of us.
  • @alihall676
    What a tragedy. I’m so sorry for your loss of your beautiful son Mikko. Thank you for being so brave to share this with the world. The mental health component can’t be understated. We can all learn a lot from this story. Thank you for sharing the very private details about your son. This will have an impact for other families that may be going through the same situation. Again, my deepest condolences.
  • @Cesare996
    How do you avoid CTE? Do not play. Before the 2000s we were ignorant of this disease, but now, if you play is your fault. We are not ignorant now. Play at your own risk but dont be lamenting later on. The things humans do or risk for money.
  • @Hollylivengood
    There are other things you can do for a "way out". He acts like only football can get you to college. You can go to college on music, science, track and field. You can go to college on chess for godsake. There's a little kid in our chess club who wins actual money you want to win at kids chess tournaments, and most of them provide scholarships as a prize. He's literally paid for his college tuition on his own with chess. Why are people sending their sons into a sport that will break their brains?
  • @servingyahuah9818
    He's admitting that he did it and continues to do it for money. If you're reading this, take your kids OUT of football and put them INTO something that will build up their brain!
  • @constancewalsh3646
    "Miss my son... 100%" - yet still not enough pain, still engaged in the sport. I too feel for this man and his family, and the suffering brought by generational trauma and addiction to illusions.
  • @pop8612
    My heart breaks for this family.
  • @drphot6050
    All the best to them and all those affected with CTE and the surviving family members.
  • @blake.henderson
    damage to the physical apparatus that affects mental function is the worst injury a human can suffer as the manesfestations are pyschological which is all we have :(