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 in 2025. Skattebo, a 24-year-old rookie, called CTE an 'excuse' and joked about asthma being unnecessary, prompting an immediate apology where he framed his remarks as a 'tasteless joke' and clarified he never intended to downplay the seriousness of these conditions. Both articles confirm his comments sparked criticism given the scientific consensus on CTE—a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma—and asthma, a chronic respiratory condition affecting millions. Skattebo’s mother, who is asthmatic, defended his remarks as sarcastic, sharing personal anecdotes about her son’s experiences with the condition. While both sources agree on his performance stats (410 rushing yards, seven touchdowns) and his ankle injury ending his rookie season, they differ slightly on study data: Article 1 cites a 2017 study finding CTE in 110 of 111 former players, while Article 2 references a 2023 study suggesting roughly 92% prevalence among examined players. The Giants have remained silent on the controversy, and Skattebo’s apology did not fully assuage public outrage over his dismissive tone toward serious health issues.
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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' and asthma as 'fake' during a Bring the Juice podcast appearance in 2025
- Skattebo’s comments included the statement 'Yeah, asthma’s fake too' and '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 between football and CTE 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 'lapse in judgment' and clarified his remarks were a 'tasteless joke'
- Skattebo was a fourth-round pick out of Arizona State in the 2025 NFL draft
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Skattebo’s mother, Becky Skattebo, responded on social media, stating she is asthmatic and shared a personal anecdote about her son needing her inhaler, framing his comments as sarcastic
- The article mentions the Giants fanbase’s popularity of Skattebo in his rookie season, highlighting his 'physical running style'
- The article includes a direct quote from Skattebo’s apology: 'It was never my intention to downplay the seriousness of head injuries or asthma'
- The article provides a more detailed scientific breakdown of CTE, including its association with tau protein buildup and symptoms like cognitive decline and dementia
- It references a 2023 Boston University study finding CTE in roughly 92% of former NFL players whose brains were examined, contrasting with the 2017 study mentioned in Article 1
- The article notes that CTE can only be definitively diagnosed posthumously and lists former NFL players like Junior Seau and Aaron Hernandez as cases with confirmed CTE
- The Giants have not publicly commented on Skattebo’s remarks, per this article
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Article 1 states a 2017 study found CTE in 110 of 111 former football players, while Article 2 cites a 2023 Boston University study finding CTE in roughly 92% of examined former NFL players (no exact number provided)
- Article 1 mentions Skattebo’s mother’s response as emphasizing personal experience with asthma, while Article 2 does not include this detail
- Article 1 highlights Skattebo’s 'physical running style' as a reason for his popularity, a detail not present in Article 2
- Article 1 includes a direct quote from Skattebo’s apology about not intending to downplay head injuries or asthma, while Article 2 does not repeat this exact phrasing
- Article 1 notes the Giants fanbase’s popularity of Skattebo in his rookie season, while Article 2 does not mention fan reception beyond his performance stats
Source Articles
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) ...
‘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...