'Shock': Superstar who took his own life at just 24, details of death revealed "So this never happens again..."

*This content was translated by AI.

It has been revealed that an American professional football (NFL) player who ended his own life last year was suffering from a disease. Critics point out that even with the help of modern medical systems, major league players remain exposed to serious risks of brain disorders.

British media outlets 'BBC' and 'The Guardian' reported on the 8th (Korean time) that "researchers at Boston University's CTE Center analyzed post-mortem brain tissue of Dallas Cowboys player Maushon Niland and confirmed he was in stage 1 of a four-stage progression of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at the time of his death."

According to local reports, CTE is a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head impacts. It is known to cause severe headaches, attention deficits, depression, violent mood swings, and impulsive behaviors. Currently, diagnosis while alive is impossible; confirmation can only be made through post-mortem tissue examination.

Dr. Ann McKee, director of Boston University's CTE Center, told 'BBC', "Our research on athletes who died before age 30 found this progressive brain disorder in nearly half of them, so it is unfortunately not surprising that CTE was found in Niland's brain." Stage 1 represents the mildest condition, but beyond headaches and reduced concentration, short-term memory problems, depression, and aggressive tendencies may also appear.

In November 2025, Niland was involved in a chase with Texas state police who were attempting to stop him for a traffic violation. He crashed into a vehicle and fled. While police conducted a search, he sent group text messages to acquaintances containing phrases like "farewell" expressing despair about his future, before being found dead early in the morning at the age of 24.

In a statement released through the Concussion and CTE Foundation on behalf of Niland's family and girlfriend Catalina Manse, they said, "While this diagnosis cannot change his tragic death, we believe it is right to reveal the cause of the suffering he endured." They added, "We share this information hoping it helps people understand the challenges faced by NFL players and athletes in high-contact sports."

They further stated, "Rather than defining him solely by his final moments, we hope he will be remembered with compassion for who he was as a person."

Niland began playing football at age 7, attended Western Michigan University, and was selected by Dallas in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He was a promising player expected to make an impact after appearing in 18 career games.

Chris Noh Win-seu-ki (Dr.) noted, "Niland developed CTE despite playing in an era with modern concussion protocols and safer helmets," adding, "There is no reason to believe the current generation faces lower CTE risks than previous generations."

He also emphasized, "Concussion protocols do not prevent CTE. CTE arises not only from single concussions but from cumulative repeated head impacts. To reduce risk, we must immediately implement preventive protocols that aggressively reduce both the frequency and intensity of head impacts at all stages of play."

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*This content was translated by AI.