NFL’s Revised Settlement With Former Players Has Open-Ended Payout

A revised settlement between the NFL and former players removes any ceiling on the cash payouts the league will give to those suffering from dementia and other conditions linked to repeated head hits. About 5,000 former players filed a lawsuit against the NFL, claiming the league hid the potential danger of concussions and repeated head trauma. In August the NFL agreed to pay $765 million, the majority of which would go to the players, but Judge Anita B. Brody with the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Circuit Court in January rejected the terms, saying the amount was insufficient for the settlement’s 65-year period. If the judge approves the new version, it will be sent to all 18,000 retired players and their beneficiaries, who can then approve, object or opt out of the settlement.