[ffdfriendforurr]

The NFL on Tuesday morning sent an e-mail to about 3,200 pre-1993 players that included an update on some retirement issues. There was some normal business chatter in the e-mail, including news that former New York Giants quarterback Joe Pisarcik is now interim president of the Alumni Association and Jim McMahon won the association's golf tournament. But also in the letter, obtained by me, was a bit of a blockbuster.

The letter included a four-page summary of a recent record-based study by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) of all retirees who played in the NFL for at least five seasons from 1959 through 1988.

The main conclusion of the NIOSH study, which it says was commissioned by the union, is that players in the study had a much lower rate of death overall compared to men in the general population. This means, on average, NFL players are actually living longer than men in the general population which contradicts a popular notion that former NFL players live into their mid-50s.

Out of the 3,439 players in the study, 334 were deceased. Based on estimates from the general population, NIOSH had anticipated 625 would be deceased.

The study is indeed propagandic, but it includes some extremely interesting data about the lives of NFL players once they leave the game. It will be up to the individual player and reader if they believe the statistics, but this is NIOSH, a part of the Centers for Disease Control, not exactly a slouch of an institution.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/blog/mi...ral-population

[joulseenjoync]

How many of those 334 abused their bodies with drugs, and how many were football related?

[FYvWldC0]

very interesting.

[dgdhgjjgj]

I wonder how the life span decreases, as the length of the career increases? LIke say, what's the numbers look like for guys that played 10 seasons or more, compared to just those that played 5 seasons or more?

[ffdfriendforurr]

I wonder how the life span decreases, as the length of the career increases? LIke say, what's the numbers look like for guys that played 10 seasons or more, compared to just those that played 5 seasons or more?

I think the length of time time in the league cuts both ways....,

Yes, you risk sustataing injuries, but you also get to cash in on a big contract or two.

The number one factor in length of life is income level, so I think your average millionaire athlete is in better shape than most of us financially.

[WapSaibian]

It makes obvious sense that people that spend a good portion of their lives in peak physical condition might outlive those who are in less than stellar peak condition.

Of course, this study only had players through 1988, as well, and there have been changes to the sizes of the players since then....

[WapSaibian]

I think the length of time time in the league cuts both ways....,

Yes, you risk sustataing injuries, but you also get to cash in on a big contract or two.

The number one factor in length of life is income level, so I think your average millionaire athlete is in better shape than most of us financially.

Some get to cash in on a big contract. The majority are never millionaires.

[ffdfriendforurr]

Some get to cash in on a big contract. The majority are never millionaires.

I was responding to whiskey's post about guys who are in the league for 10 years. Those guys tend to get Big contracts at some point.

Unless they are kickers and their data would totally throw the overall data out of whack.

[ashleyjoseph]

It makes obvious sense that people that spend a good portion of their lives in peak physical condition might outlive those who are in less than stellar peak condition.

Of course, this study only had players through 1988, as well, and there have been changes to the sizes of the players since then....

Lots of ex-players balloon up pretty big once they retire. I was shocked at how well fed Paul Hornung looked when I met him.

[WapSaibian]

Lots of ex-players balloon up pretty big once they retire. I was shocked at how well fed Paul Hornung looked when I met him.

I'm not doubting that....Hell, when Keith Jackson stepped out onto the field last season, it registered as an earthquake.

But, take the influx of men already 300+ lbs that play the game today, and then stop them from having job pressure to work out the way they are now, but keeping their same eating habits...

Just being 300+ lbs increases their chances of heart problems.


The other thing the study doesn't mention at all is quality of life....Which kinda makes it like the smoking thing..

"My grandfather smoked 10 packs a day and he lived to be 100"

What they don't tell you is that he carried around an oxygen tank for 40 of those years and spoke through an opening in his throat.