NFL player Cam Skattebo’s controversial denial of CTE and asthma legitimacy sparks backlash
Consensus Summary
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo faced widespread backlash after dismissing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and asthma as 'fake' during a podcast interview. Skattebo, a 24-year-old rookie drafted in 2025, called CTE an 'excuse' and suggested asthma sufferers 'just breathe air,' prompting an immediate apology where he framed the remarks as a 'tasteless joke.' Both articles confirm his comments were made on the Bring the Juice podcast and his subsequent retraction on X, though they differ slightly on the timeline of studies linking CTE to football. While Article 1 highlights his mother’s public defense—including her own asthma and personal anecdotes—Article 2 emphasizes the scientific consensus and names specific former players diagnosed with CTE. Skattebo’s rookie season was cut short by an ankle injury after he scored seven touchdowns and rushed for 410 yards, though his popularity with fans and the Giants’ lack of public response vary slightly between sources. The controversy underscores the sensitivity around head injuries in football and the potential for offhand remarks to escalate into broader debates.
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Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Cam Skattebo, 24, is a running back for the New York Giants drafted in the 2025 NFL draft (4th round out of Arizona State)
- Skattebo made comments on the Bring the Juice podcast dismissing CTE as an 'excuse' and asthma as 'fake', saying 'just breathe air'
- CTE is a degenerative brain condition linked to repeated head trauma, with symptoms including mood swings, depression, suicidal thoughts, and memory loss
- A 2017 study found CTE in 110 of 111 former football players examined, and the NFL acknowledged a link to football in 2016
- Skattebo scored seven touchdowns and ran for 410 yards in his rookie season (2025) before an ankle injury ended it
- Skattebo apologized on X (formerly Twitter) for his comments, calling them a 'tasteless joke' and saying he was not trying to downplay seriousness
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Skattebo’s mother, Becky Skattebo, replied to her son’s apology post, stating she is asthmatic and shared a personal anecdote about Cam needing her inhaler repeatedly ('run and get mom’s inhaler')
- The mother’s comment included sarcasm: 'You’ll never make everyone happy and you’ll never say all the right things and people are bound to spin something sooner or later in a direction it was never intended to go'
- The article references a 2017 study (not 2023) finding CTE in 110 of 111 former players
- The article cites a 2023 Boston University study finding CTE in roughly 92% of former NFL players whose brains were examined
- It mentions specific former NFL players with diagnosed CTE (Junior Seau and Aaron Hernandez) as examples
- The Giants have not publicly commented on Skattebo’s remarks, unlike the mother’s response in Article 1
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Article 1 states a 2017 study found CTE in 110 of 111 former players, while Article 2 cites a 2023 study with 92% prevalence in examined players
- Article 1 includes the mother’s personal anecdote about Cam needing her inhaler, which is not mentioned in Article 2
- Article 2 references the NFL’s acknowledgment of the CTE link in 2016 but does not mention the mother’s public response or her sarcastic comment
- Article 1 notes Skattebo’s popularity with Giants fans in his rookie season due to his physical running style, while Article 2 omits this detail
- Article 2 explicitly states Skattebo was a 'key contributor' for the Giants as a rookie, a phrasing not used in Article 1
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) ...