Ann McKee

“It's almost un-American to say that you want to change football.”

“While we know, on average, that certain positions experience more repetitive head impacts and are more likely at greater risk for CTE, no position is immune.”

“I would advise kids not to play any sports, such as tackle football, where they are exposed to repeated blows to the head.”

“I was born and raised right outside of Green Bay, Wisconsin.”

“I'm a Cheesehead.”

“My brothers played football. In fact, I was an absolutely enormous Packer fan, and because I was raised in such a football-centric community, I have always had a terrific admiration for football players.”

“I run a number of different brain banks.”

“I have a little easier time watching the NFL than college or high school. I used to go to the high school games, and now I have trouble with it. The NFL players get big rewards from it. I feel at least the NFL has made big changes to help their safety. And they're adults - they can make good decisions.”

“CTE can be caused by smaller hits to the head over time.”

“Our national identity is so interwoven with football.”

“The beginnings of CTE can start quite early.”

“I started out as a neurologist. I then trained in neuropathology and was focused on neurodegeneration. So, for years, I studied Alzheimer's, aging, Parkinson's, that kind of thing.”

“Frankly, I think it should be no football until you're physically mature.”

“The overwhelming evidence is that trauma is a major factor in CTE.”

“Families don't donate brains of their loved ones unless they're concerned about the person.”

“I definitely agree about the future of youth football being flag. There's just more and more evidence that the youth brain is particularly susceptible to the injury - thin necks, big heads. They're not as coordinated; they're not as skillful. For many reasons, I think the wave of the future is flag football for youth.”

“I have a lot of college football players in my Brain Bank with CTE.”

“My son was a goalkeeper in soccer, and he luckily never had much head trauma. He never had any concussions or anything. I really wanted him to play football, but now I'm thankful he didn't.”

“I'm not your run-of-the-mill scientist.”

“Kids' brains are developing. Their heads are a larger part of their body, and their necks are not as strong as adults' necks. So kids may be at a greater risk of head and brain injuries than adults.”