Brain Injury Concussion Settlement

The average work-life expectancy is 3.5 years in the NFL.  If a first-round draft pick, the number of years in the league averages out to about eight years per player.  Most of the NFL player benefits do not vest until five years in the league.  Of course, there are exceptions to the general rules.  Players and their families need guidance as to available NFL benefits. 

Players understood the risk of play.  Death, paraplegia, broken bones, skull fracture, and other injuries were accepted risks in the NFL.  However, when it comes to brain injury, players never consented to the type of harm to which they were exposed, thus the concussion settlement.  The NFL didn't acknowledge a problem with retired player brains until the 2000's.