New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo invited widespread criticism in March when he dismissed the existence of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and asthma during a podcast appearance. Although he later apologized for his comments, the running back continues to catch flak for his careless words, especially at a time when CTE has become a hot topic in the NFL sphere.
Three-time Pro Bowler Matt Hasselbeck recently slammed Skattebo's outrageous comments and overly physical style of play.
In an interview with ESPN, Hasselbeck was highly critical of Skattebo's gung-ho playing style and careless comments about Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy.
"CTE is a very real thing," Hasselbeck said . "And we have guys who are very conscious of it. We also have guys who are whatever the opposite of that is. We have guys that are rookie running backs slamming their heads into everything with their helmet. And then they're making light of it and they're making jokes of it. And they're, like, 'I don't care. You only live once.' And then they have to come back and apologize.
"I'm thinking of Cam Skattebo this year. And I played with tons of guys like that. And it's funny in the moment. Teams like it because you're like, 'Oh, you're a warrior. I'll go to battle with you any day.' But it doesn't need to be that way. And there's a balance there where you can't live in fear, but also this is a real thing."
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According to a study published in the British Medical Journal, at least roughly one in four former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE. Researchers identified 878 former NFL players who died during that period and estimated the disease's prevalence at death to be at least 24.5%.
The football-CTE debate reached another major turning point in 2016 when NFL executive Jeff Miller acknowledged during a congressional roundtable that research showed a connection between football-related head trauma and CTE. The admission was significant because it marked one of the clearest public acknowledgments of that link from a senior NFL official.
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The NFL has stepped up its efforts to address concussions through rule and technique changes and improved helmet technology.
Skattebo had a stellar college football career at Sacramento State and Arizona State, where he carved out a niche for himself with his bruising style of play and consistent end product. The talented running back was selected No. 105 overall in the 2025 NFL Draft by the Giants, and he quickly established himself as one of the league's most potent running backs.
A dislocated ankle ended his rookie season prematurely in Week 8, but he picked up where he left off with a promising start to the 2026 season. Skattebo has tallied 177 rushing yards and 1 touchdown on 50 carries, adding 59 receiving yards for the Giants this season, earning a PFN RB Impact score of 74.3 (No. 19 in the NFL).
This article originally appeared on Pro Football Network .
