NFL player Cam Skattebo’s controversial denial of CTE and asthma legitimacy sparks backlash and apology
Consensus Summary
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo faced significant backlash after dismissing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and asthma as 'fake' during a podcast interview in 2025. Skattebo, a rookie drafted in 2025, called CTE an 'excuse' and suggested asthma sufferers should 'just breathe air,' sparking outrage given the well-documented link between football and CTE and the life-threatening nature of asthma. Both articles confirm his comments were made on the Bring the Juice podcast and that he later apologized, framing them as a 'tasteless joke' not meant to downplay the seriousness of the conditions. Skattebo’s mother, who is asthmatic, defended his remarks on social media, sharing personal stories to clarify his intent. While both sources agree on key facts like his draft status, rookie stats (410 rushing yards, five touchdowns), and the NFL’s 2016 acknowledgment of CTE risks, discrepancies include the framing of his comments, the prominence of specific study findings, and minor variations in his touchdown count. The controversy highlights the tension between public figures’ offhand remarks and the scientific consensus on health issues tied to sports.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Cam Skattebo, a 24-year-old New York Giants running back, dismissed chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) as an 'excuse' during a Bring the Juice podcast in 2025
- Skattebo also called asthma 'fake' and suggested people should 'just breathe air' during the same interview
- CTE is a degenerative brain condition linked to repeated head trauma, marked by abnormal tau protein buildup and symptoms including cognitive decline, mood changes, and dementia
- CTE can only be definitively diagnosed posthumously, with studies like a 2017 Boston University study finding evidence in 110 of 111 former NFL players examined
- The NFL acknowledged a link between football and CTE in 2016
- Skattebo was a fourth-round draft pick out of Arizona State in the 2025 NFL draft and finished his rookie season with 410 rushing yards and five touchdowns in eight games before an ankle injury ended it
- Skattebo apologized on X (Twitter) for his comments, calling them a 'tasteless joke' and stating he did not intend to downplay the seriousness of the conditions
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The 2023 Boston University study found evidence of CTE in roughly 92% of former NFL players whose brains were examined
- The article notes the Giants have not publicly commented on Skattebo’s remarks
- Skattebo’s comments were described as drawing 'widespread backlash'
- The article highlights Skattebo’s physical running style as a reason for his popularity among Giants fans in his rookie season
- Skattebo’s mother, Becky Skattebo, replied to his apology post, revealing she is asthmatic and shared personal anecdotes about her son’s experiences with her inhaler ('run and get mom’s inhaler')
- The article emphasizes Skattebo’s popularity with Giants fans in his rookie season, noting he scored seven touchdowns and ran for 410 yards before his injury
- The 2017 Boston University study finding CTE in 110 of 111 former players is mentioned here, though the 92% figure from the 2023 study is not repeated
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Article 1 states Skattebo called CTE an 'excuse' and agreed with the host before making similar claims about asthma, while Article 2 frames the comments as a 'tasteless joke' without explicitly stating he agreed with the host’s framing
- Article 1 does not mention Skattebo’s mother’s response or her personal anecdotes about asthma, which are included in Article 2
- Article 1 does not reference the Giants’ lack of public comment on the remarks, which is explicitly noted in Article 2 as part of the backlash context
- Article 1 describes Skattebo’s rookie season stats as 410 rushing yards and five touchdowns, while Article 2 specifies seven touchdowns (though both agree on 410 yards)
- Article 1 does not include the 2017 Boston University study’s exact figure (110 of 111) as prominently as Article 2, though both reference the study’s findings
Source Articles
‘It’s an excuse’: New York Giants’ Cam Skattebo says CTE and asthma are ‘fake’
Skattebo calls CTE and asthma ‘fake’ on podcast Comments draw backlash citing medical consensus Giants have not publicly responded to remarks New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo is facing backla...
Giants’ Cam Skattebo says his denial of CTE and asthma were part of a ‘tasteless joke’
Running back retracts comments he gave on podcast Player’s mother says she is asthmatic New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo has apologized for saying that chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) ...