NFL Player’s brain test results causes sports safety concern

The results of a former NFL player's brain tests have finally been released, and with them, comes shocking news regarding sports safety.

Junior Seau was a star player for various teams before he retired in 2009.

In May however, he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

His brain was then donated by his family for science.

Seau's brain showed visible signs of CTE, a concussion related injury that shrinks and hardens brain tissue.

He joins a list of several dozen football players who had CTE.

Boston University reported last month that 34 former pro-players suffered from the same injury.

In light of Seau's brain results, we looked into the precautions all sports teams are taking here locally.

District 51's athletic director, Paul Cain, told us he's confident that all coaches, volunteers and trainers are prepared when it comes to athletic safety.

Cain said, “There's a lot more concussion or head trauma injuries being diagnosed than ever before. I think that’s where the pendulum is at right now. I think people are airing on the side of precaution which is great. We're trying to be proactive on the high school level and say hey if we're seeing concussions we're going to hold you out until we're cleared."

District 51 also has impact testing programs, where all athletes take a "pre-season" physical test of their brain in a healthy state.

Then if any head injuries occur they have the impact test to compare the brain status of an athlete.