Iron Mike Webster: Patient Zero in the NFL's "League of Denial" (Part 1 of 9) | FRONTLINE

Concussions are scary as hell. I no longer regret quitting football.

Dr. Bennet Omalu = Nigerian-born, American hero.

This guy sustained nearly 70,000 blows to his head. Absolutely insane.

As a 10-12 year old child, I was at those games you see in this film. I remember it fondly and looking up to Mike Webster, Franco, Bradshaw, Ham, Greene, Rocky, Stallworth and Swann. So sad. I hope they develop a test to find CTE while a person is still alive.

The fact that people can still deny the AMAZING work done by Dr. Omalu is shocking. The film with Will Smith was good despite some dramatic liberties but it is genuinely sad. These men deserve better. If someone sustains a real injury, TAKE THEM OUT OF THE GAME. I am not saying ban football but these athletes need to be looked after. Cared for. Not exploited.

All the comments here about "oh football is a dangerous sport and players know what they're getting into and choose it because they get millions of dollars for it." Is just flat out stupid! The whole problem is that they don't know what they're getting into at all because the NFL has made serious efforts to hide this information. With cigarettes, we give people the free choice to smoke because there are very explicit and transparent warning labels clearly informing the consumers of potential health risks, and if they want to smoke despite that that's their choice. But the NFL has done the exact opposite! Not only are they not being transparent about the potential health risks of their product, they've made serious efforts to hide it! If they overtly informed the players about the potential risks of CTE before they signed their contracts, none of this would be a problem.

A coworker of mine whos young son is very athletic. He preferred contact sports like football. It was this episode that freaked her out just later to try and convince her son to look at other sport like baseball or basketball as an alternative. He was not happy about it at first, but now enjoys baseball.

Watched this guys movie Concusion. I recommend all of you to see it, it's a great movie!

You're going to see more players coming from the extremely poor classes as middle-class families will keep their kids from playing for fears. People with nothing to lose will take up the game. A modern gladiator sport.

This certainly deserves more attention. Probably it would be better if Frontline uploaded it in one piece instead of 9.

I am 50. played 12 years of football. problems with my balance and pain when I walk. kids be careful of the sport you choose to play

Came here after watching the movie Concussion.

I've been a Steelers fan since 1972 , my favorite Steeler was and will allways be "MIKE WEBSTER" ; iron MIKE was all know as the "BULL LIKE CENTER" what fascinated me the most about Webster was the way he roared out of the huddle essentially challenging all the defensive linemen by himself .. he was so imposing .. R.I.P.

Like it or not Bennett Omalu has changed how football is played, how it is studied when players retire, changed how they did concussions, how the NFL can't keep denying concussions anymore. Omalu didn't have to use get tissues samples from Mike Websters brain, but he did and because he found the tau protein and went further it changed everything for the world of pro football.

I studied Mike as a kid, now my head is messed up. No joke💯🏈💪 I pledged to donate my brain to the Concussion Legacy Foundation, to test for CTE after my death.

That movie broke my heart as I loved and idolized Webster, Long, Strelzek and admire Omalu for his professionalism and character.

Mike Webster has left a legacy of one of,if not the greatest NFL center to ever play football! More than that, he was the man who opened up the eyes of those that were closed off to the head injuries of the 70s & 80s & what was the result of them! It's so sad that Mike's life ended so prematurely, as did so many others having delt with CTE, & hopefully the research & testing by these amazing men like Dr Omalu will be able to save so.many lives in the future

So sad, Mike was the man! So sad that he died forgotten and in poverty. All of that smashing of his brain for what?? ☹️ BUT thanks to him, we now know just what happens to these guys brains who play high contact sports.

Its more than just football. Its soccer, hockey, rugby, etc. This disease needs to be looked at in every sport

Thank you so much to Frontline for covering this very important subject so well!