An extension of today's remarks...

My anonymous friend and I got talking about the Dwight Clark passing today, and my friend noted something that I wanted to explore:  The number of iconic moments in NFL history (with "The Catch" now included again) with head and other injuries attached:

• We started with the game which probably catapulted the NFL from obscurity to national television:  The 1958 NFL Championship, regarded "The Greatest Game Ever Played".

Frank Gifford, who caught a fourth-quarter touchdown pass:  CTE.
Johnny Unitas had two replacement knees and couldn't use one of his elbows after his playing career.

• One of the greatest superstars of the early-TV NFL...  Y.A. Tittle...  

Who spent most of the latter part of his life with such severe dementia, he could only address certain subjects...

• The Ice Bowl, the iconic game between Dallas and Green Bay,

As previously reported on this blog, Bart Starr probably does not remember his winning quarterback sneak.  Numerous hits to the head have impaired his memory in old age.

• The Heidi Bowl and Super Bowl III, both featuring the New York Jets and Joe Namath...

... a Joe Namath who has had to resort to experimental treatments to deal with what he fears was serious brain damage, including being completely knocked out at least five times, with the only treatment to be revived by smelling salts.  (ESPN feature)

• The Pittsburgh Steelers and their four Super Bowl victories in the 1970's...

On all four of those teams was Mike Webster, the first football player ever to be successfully diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy...

CTE.

• The Super Bowl championships of the Oakland Raiders in the 1970's...

Ken Stabler was diagnosed with CTE upon his passing.

• The Catch in 1981.

The reported passing today of Dwight Clark, but the other half of that combination also has had troubles with his health because of injuries on the field:  Joe Montana.  A knee he can't straighten, arthritis in about every relevant joint, elbow, at least four neck fusions.  (USA Today)

Montana's career was ended by a concussion which went through his body like a lightning bolt.  (CBS)

It didn't end with Montana at his position for his team:  Steve Young also had numerous concussions and had to cut his career short due to them.

• The famous Chicago Bears Super Bowl in 1986.

Entire programs have been done on the numerous players off that classic Bears team dealing with injuries to the head due to football.

Jim McMahon:  Concussions and dementia.
Dave Duerson:  Suicide at 50, CTE.

I could go on and on and on...

But most every meaningful iconic moment the NFL has ever had has cost the men who made it dearly -- and no one cares...