Seattle Seahawks Legendary QB Takes Part In Major CTE Brain Study

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Former Seattle Seahawks quarterback Matt Hasselbeck is stepping up to help researchers solve one of football’s biggest health mysteries.

According to ESPN and The Associated Press, Hasselbeck spent two days at Boston University participating in a major study on CTE, a progressive brain disease caused by repeated head impacts. Right now, CTE can only be diagnosed after death, so researchers are trying to figure out a way to spot it in living people.

The 50-year-old former NFL star underwent several tests during the visit. Doctors performed brain scans, blood work, and cognitive evaluations. He also pledged to donate his brain for research after his death.

Hasselbeck pointed out that scientists don’t just need players who are struggling, they need healthy ones, too.

“They need guys like me. They need people who are feeling good to step up to the plate and volunteer,” Hasselbeck said.

Even though he feels fine, Hasselbeck knows his long football career is full of useful data for researchers. He had three concussions before even reaching college, plus several more during his college and NFL days, not to mention all the hits that went completely unrecorded along the way.

Hasselbeck Wants To Help Former Teammates

Hasselbeck said concern for former teammates played a major role in his decision to join the study.

“I played quarterback, so I didn’t take some of the hits that a lot of my teammates took,” Hasselbeck said. “But the guys who were blocking for me, or playing special teams, or trying to get the ball back for me on defense, I wanted to do something. They had my back, so in a way I’d like to have their back.”

During his visit, Hasselbeck underwent an MRI, a PET scan, blood tests, and a series of memory and brain exercises. He said looking at scans of his own brain was a truly humbling experience.

Researchers at Boston University are still working to understand the long-term effects of repeated head hits and how CTE differs from other brain disorders.

A separate BU study from January showed that former athletes with advanced CTE were far more likely to develop dementia. By analyzing these patterns, scientists hope to find clear warning signs that can separate CTE from other conditions like Alzheimer’s.

The National Institutes of Health supports the project. ESPN reported that researchers received $15 million for the study in 2025.

Hasselbeck’s involvement carries extra meaning in Seattle. He spent 10 seasons with the Seahawks and led the franchise to its first Super Bowl appearance during the 2005 season. The team inducted him into its Ring of Honor in 2021.

Now, years after his playing career ended, Hasselbeck hopes his participation can help researchers develop better answers for former players and future generations.