Caitlin O'Hara for The New York Times; Brian L. Frank for The New York Times; Getty Images
An insidious scourge that has nothing to do with head trauma is ravaging retired N.F.L. players.
In the past few decades, the N.F.L.’s emphasis on the passing game and quarterback protection has led teams to stock their offensive and defensive lines with ever-larger men, many of them weighing well over 300 pounds. But their great girth, which coaches encouraged and which helped turn some players into multimillion-dollar commodities, leaves many of them prone to obesity problems.
In retirement, these huge men are often unable to lose the weight they needed to do their jobs.