Texarkana – Former NFL defensive end Casey Toohill announced his retirement after a six‑year career and immediately stepped into advocacy for former players suffering from head injuries. Toohill, who played for the Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles and Buffalo Bills, said the sport’s repeated impacts can leave lasting damage even without a diagnosed concussion.
New clinical trial offers hope
Last month Toohill was appointed to the advisory board of the Concussion & CTE Foundation. The foundation is partnering with Emory University School of Medicine to launch a clinical trial of baricitinib, an FDA‑approved medication that reduces inflammation. The study will enroll adult men ages 30‑55 who played at least 11 years of tackle football and are experiencing depression and cognitive concerns.
“We have these clinical trials happening – we’re making progress,” Toohill said. “We’re trying to help people. We’re not helpless in this situation.”
Why inflammation matters
Co‑principal investigator Christina Gavegnano, an associate professor at Emory, explained that acute inflammation after a brain injury is a normal healing response. The problem arises when inflammation persists, causing neurons to die and communication to break down. This pattern is seen in many brain disorders, including depression, ALS, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
“When there’s too much inflammation in the brain, it causes neurons to ball up, die and not be able to talk to each other,” Gavegnano said. “The hypothesis is that symptoms from a variety of brain diseases – including CTE – could improve if inflammation is returned to normal levels.”
Baricitinib: a promising candidate
Baricitinib is already on the market as a once‑a‑day pill for several inflammatory conditions. Researchers note its safety profile, known dosing, and existing use in clinical trials for other brain‑related diseases make it an attractive option for this study. The drug has also been approved for use in young children, adding to its safety credentials.
“We know how it behaves, we know how to dose it, we know the safety,” Gavegnano said. “We’re really going in ahead of the game with a drug that’s already on the market.”
Understanding CTE and the need for research
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative brain disease that can only be diagnosed after death. More than 100 former NFL players have been found to have CTE, underscoring the urgency of finding ways to identify and treat its symptoms while individuals are still alive.
Chris Nowinski, CEO of the Concussion & CTE Foundation, called the trial “a special moment” because it brings the broader scientific community into an area traditionally dominated by sports‑medicine researchers. “This will hopefully be the first of many studies showing the scientific community coming to the aid of the football community,” he said.
Toohill’s personal perspective
Toohill, 30, played college football at Stanford and was diagnosed with only one concussion during his NFL tenure. He emphasized that repeated sub‑concussive blows – the large head impacts that occur in games and practices – are a major concern.
“My health has been good, but at the same time, this is such a wake‑up call for so many players,” Toohill said. “You realize, even if I didn’t have a diagnosed concussion, there could still be harmful effects.”
Although Toohill does not meet the study’s eligibility criteria, he is reaching out to former teammates who might qualify. He hopes the trial will provide a pathway for former players to mitigate the cognitive and emotional challenges linked to repeated head trauma.
Looking ahead
The trial is still recruiting, and researchers are optimistic that the results will guide future treatment strategies for former athletes and anyone else affected by chronic brain inflammation. For now, Toohill and the Concussion & CTE Foundation are urging eligible former players to consider participation.
Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.
