Dorsett played football ‘not knowing’ dementia would result

Published 2:59 pm Tuesday, February 10, 2015

COURTESY/Cbssports.com

DALLAS (AP) — Hall of Fame running back Tony Dorsett says he started playing football “not knowing that the end was going to be like this” — what he calls a frustrating battle with a condition caused by head trauma that can lead to dementia and depression.

The former Heisman Trophy winner at Pittsburgh and Super Bowl champion with the Dallas Cowboys was diagnosed in 2013 as having signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain condition.


Dorsett told Dallas-area radio station KTCK-AM 1310 last week that he loves football and it was “good to me,” despite the diagnosis.

The 60-year-old Dorsett opted out of a settlement between the NFL and former players that could end up paying out $1 billion. He said he wanted his case to stand on its merits.

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