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

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.

A major hit in middle school is a concussion! How could they not take this more seriously?

No parents should ever bury their sons and daughters. No parents ever!

I feel like no one is taking CTE seriously

Wouldn’t participate in a contact sport for all the money in the world

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.

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.

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?

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.

Screw simulated war competition. It only teaches us to reward the worst of us.

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!

Wishing them the best!

3:56 I think everyone can relate to this within their lives.

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?

I'm so sorry for their loss.

"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.

I would watch an extended version of this

My heart breaks for this family.

Too many times we hear that parents did not know that their children who played football had suffered these brain injuries. Coach Locksley and his wife are no different. Mrs. Locksley mentions in hindsight that she believed her son had suffered an undiagnosed concussion(s). I believe my son did also. We are taught that the hits that these young men take do nothing but “ring their bells” It is time to fully inform the parents about CTE and let the parents decide whether they want their child’s brain health to be at risk. After all, our brains are the most important part of our body.

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 :(