Name: League of Denial: The NFL’s Concussion Crisis
Director: Michael Kirk
Genre: Documentary, History
Released: 2013-10-08
Duration: 120 min
Rating: 7.5
Cast: Will Lyman, Harry Carson, Steve Fainaru, Mikey Collins, Bennett Omalu

The NFL spent 20 years pretending brains weren't exploding on their watch. Spoiler: they were.

Watch(GB)

The NFL spent 20 years pretending brains weren't exploding on their watch. Spoiler: they were.

Watch(GB)

corporate horrormedical thrillersports betrayal

Overview

Documentary History

Drawing on the book of the same name, League of Denial crafts a searing two-hour indictment of the National Football League’s decades-long concealment of the link between football related head injuries and brain disorders.

Content warning

suicide cover-up american football racism scientific study corruption medical research scientist amnesia money+5 more

Standout Aspects

Editing

Devastating juxtaposition of game glory and autopsy photos.

Direction

Kirk builds case like a prosecutor, not a journalist.

Writing

Narration that weaponizes corporate emails against the NFL.

Best for:Solo·Friends·Binge

Heads up:Emotional·Disturbing

Director

Michael Kirk

ReleasedOct 8, 2013

Runtime2h

StatusReleased

Vibe

Pacesteady

Intensityhigh

Tonedark

Feelheavy

Top Cast

Will Lyman

Himself - Narrator

Mikey Collins

Himself - University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

Stan Savran

Himself - Pittsburgh Sports Reporter

Steve Young

Self

Troy Aikman

Self (archive footage)

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Deep Dive

Trivia, insights & behind the scenes

Trivia

The NFL pressured ESPN to drop its partnership in this documentary — ESPN caved and pulled out, though PBS aired it anyway.

Cultural

This film directly pressured the NFL to finally admit CTE exists in 2016, though they still dispute causation. The league's 'play smart' campaign launched months after release.