I’d be surprised if the NFL isn’t paying close attention to Shane Tamura’s case. Shane Tamura, a 27-year-old ex-high school football player with no college and/or professional football experience, was the gunman responsible for killing four people at 345 Park Avenue in Mid-town Manhattan on July 28, 2025. Tamura knew he had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). He even left a note asking scientists to study his brain. But, not until this past Friday, September 26th, when the New York Office of the Chief Medical Examiner confirmed there was “unambiguous diagnostic evidence” of CTE in his brain tissue was it conclusive.
It’s not hard to predict that CTE has affected former high school football players. It’s just hard to prove. While some news about Tamura’s findings made airwaves over the weekend, the fact that another high school football player had CTE has largely fallen on deaf ears. Week 4 of the NFL season proceeded as planned. There were no viewership changes, no protests, no boycotts, and no statement from the NFL. It’s now the Wednesday thereafter.
Over 10 years had passed before the NFL officially acknowledged that there is a link between football and CTE. Given the NFL’s history and its lack of response on Tamura, more kids will, unfortunately, suffer and more people will pay the consequences. Had our society helped Tamura when CTE was discovered or even when it was acknowledged by the NFL, maybe he and the four others that were killed would still be alive today. Tamura wouldn’t have had a reason to attack the NFL’s headquarters. So how many other individuals like Shane Tamura will it take for our society to care?
People should stand up for Shane Tamura like they do for Luigi Mangione. Tamura was a victim of the system. The NFL and every college and university with a football program are knowingly taking advantage of our kids for their own benefit. While Tamura could have done things differently to make his point in theory, he obviously had difficulties with self-control like other CTE victims but without the support a pro-baller would have had available. Maybe he thought Wyatt Bramwell’s approach was ineffective.
Your primary doctor routinely asks us whether we have a gun in the house. It’s probably about time they also ask patients, “Have you ever played organized tackle football at any level?”
You’re not playing football.
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