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, then 24, called CTE an 'excuse' and joked about asthma, prompting an immediate apology where he clarified his remarks were a 'tasteless joke' not meant seriously. Both articles confirm his rookie season in 2025, where he scored touchdowns and rushed for yards before an ankle injury ended it early. Skattebo’s mother, who is asthmatic, defended his comments as sarcastic, referencing her son’s childhood reliance on her inhaler. While both sources agree on the core facts—his controversial statements, the scientific consensus on CTE, and his apology—they differ slightly on study references (2017 vs. 2023) and specific touchdown counts (seven vs. five). The NFL’s acknowledgment of CTE’s link to football in 2016 and the severity of asthma as a life-threatening condition are consistently highlighted as context for Skattebo’s remarks.
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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'
- Becky Skattebo (Cam’s mother) confirmed she is asthmatic and referenced her son’s childhood reliance on her inhaler to support his sarcasm
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- Skattebo’s mother wrote on social media: 'If only people knew how many times cam had to “run and get mom’s inhaler” they’d realize the sarcasm'
- The article mentions Skattebo was a 'popular figure with Giants fans in his rookie season'
- The article includes the exact phrasing of Skattebo’s apology: 'It was never my intention to downplay the seriousness of head injuries or asthma'
- The article highlights a 2023 Boston University study finding CTE in roughly 92% of former NFL players whose brains were examined
- It names Junior Seau and Aaron Hernandez as former NFL players diagnosed with CTE posthumously
- The article states Skattebo was a 'fourth-round pick out of Arizona State in the 2025 NFL draft'
- It notes the Giants have not publicly commented on Skattebo’s remarks
Contradictions
Conflicting information between sources:
- Article 1 states Skattebo’s rookie season was in 2025, while no other source confirms this specific year for his rookie season
- Article 1 mentions Skattebo scored seven touchdowns and ran for 410 yards in his rookie season, but Article 2 does not specify the number of touchdowns (only mentions five)
- Article 1 references a 2017 study (110/111 former players with CTE), while Article 2 references a 2023 study (92% of examined players with CTE) without cross-verifying the 2017 data
- Article 1 includes Skattebo’s mother’s exact social media post about inhalers, while Article 2 does not repeat this detail
- Article 1 states the Giants have not publicly commented on his remarks, but Article 2 also states the same—no contradiction here, but both sources agree on this point
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...