Former New Orleans Saint Kenny Stabler Posthumously Diagnosed With Brain Disease

Former New Orleans Saint, Super Bowl winner and one-time NFL MVP Kenny Stabler sadly passed away this past July from colon cancer. Now, a posthumous autopsy has revealed he was also suffering from stage 3 chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE as a result of his NFL career.

CTE is a traumatic brain disease. CTE is found in people with a history of repetitive brain trauma, including repeated concussions. Before Stabler passed away, he decided to have his brain tested after his death after he noticed other former players being diagnosed with the disease. The autopsy can only be performed after death.

According the NY Times, the number of NFL players who have been diagnosed with the disease has now grown to 100.

There was a class action law suit filed against the NFL regarding CTE that was settled in April of 2015. Stabler's diagnosis came after the settlement, so he family wasn't awarded any of the settlement.