Cincinnati's Luke Fickell: CTE 'not something I worry about'

Cincinnati head coach Luke Fickell believes he could have CTE from his playing days with Ohio State, though that isn't changing his opinion on the game.

"I probably have it. Who knows?" Fickell told Tom Groeschen of USA TODAY Sports. "There’s a lot of people that didn’t play football that probably have it. It’s not something I worry about. I’ve got five young boys that are gonna play the game of football, because I think the benefits far outweigh anything I worry about. I truly believe that."

The 44-year-old was a defensive lineman for the Buckeyes before a brief stop with the New Orleans Saints. Fickell does believe, though, the game could be made safer.

"Now, do we have an obligation to make the game better?" Fickell said. "Every day we do, in some of the ways in which we tackle and some of the ways in which we practice. I think it’s something that’s a little bit hypersensitive right now. It doesn’t mean that we aren’t aware of it. It doesn’t mean we don’t credibly use somewhat precaution in the way we do things and the way we practice."

CTE has once again become a focal point of conversation around the football world, with former NFL quarterback Boomer Esiason noting recently he likely has it and Terrell Davis saying he was scared about possibly having the disease.