You know I was thinking about this the other day. Like everyone, there are probably aspects of my personality that may seem a bit paradoxical.

I have interests and passions that sometimes feel like inherent contradictions. For example, I'm a brain surgeon who loves football.

I have to be honest with you, This is something I wrestle with every fall. I am well aware of the short-term risks of concussions and the long-term dangers of conditions like chronic traumatic encephalopathy, CTE.

There was this study published in 2017

that found 87% of deceased football players

whose families were worried about them

and they had donated their brains did show signs of CTE. It included

players as young as high school. But here's the thing. I do really love the action and the

athleticism of the game. I love the cam and the athleticism of the game.

I love the camaraderie of the players in the game.

And of course the thrill of watching those players like Tom Brady

lead their team down the field to win on a last second touchdown.

It's a good one.

It's exciting stuff.

So yeah, the love of football is a real dilemma for me.

Now one of the ways I've tried to reconcile this over the years as a doctor and a fan and a journalist

has been too closely follow the evolution of the game safety measures,

whether it's new equipment, new concussion protocols, new rules.

This year, the NFL, the most popular sports league in America,

has unveiled the biggest rule change fans may have ever seen,

a brand new kickoff.

Now a reminder for my listeners who don't watch a lot of football,

...