Former Chicago Bears running back Gale Sayers suing NFL, Riddell for head injuries
By Bryan Rose
While a handful of former NFL players sued their former employer, none have had the name recognition of former Chicago Bears running back Gale Sayers.
The four time Pro Bowl rusher filed suit against the National Football League and helmet maker Riddell yesterday, claiming neither did enough to prevent head injuries which lead to brain damage.
Per the Chicago Sun-Times:
"The suit claims Sayers played with concussions because the NFL never warned him doing so could cause brain damage.The five-count lawsuit also names Riddell as a defendant, claiming the helmet maker did not provide adequate safety instructions or information about which models provide the best protection."
The suit suggests that Sayers has dealt with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy since his retirement in 1971, which has only progressed with his age.
Sayers’ suit comes on the heels of the $765 million dollar settlement between the NFL and former players who sued the league. The hope of the NFL was to settle and prevent constant legal inquiries, though, as evidenced by Sayers, that might be wishful thinking on their part.