Concussion Legacy Foundation to host first-ever Global CTE Summit uniting top researchers, football families

NFL legends Matt Hasselbeck & Warren Sapp confirmed as speakers

San Francisco — The Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF), in collaboration with the Boston University CTE Center and UCSF Memory & Aging Center, announced today the first Global CTE Summit. It will take place on February 2, 2026, on the campus of UCSF Mission Bay. The event coincides with Super Bowl week in San Francisco.

Former NFL Pro Bowl quarterback Matt Hasselbeck and Pro Football Hall of Famer Warren Sapp will serve as featured speakers. Studies to date reveal a minimum of 10%, and possibly as many as 90%, of former NFL players are living with CTE, with the true number unknown because CTE cannot yet be diagnosed during life.

“I’m honored to speak at the first Global CTE Summit because advancing CTE research and care helps the sports community,” said Hasselbeck, who serves as ambassador for the NIH-funded DIAGNOSE CTE Research Project-II. “For too long, players and families have faced CTE in silence. Bringing together doctors, researchers, and those of us who’ve lived the game is how we build real understanding, and hope for the future.”

The Summit’s theme is Caring for Patients with Suspected CTE and researchers from Boston University, Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Harvard University, UCSF, Duke, Banner Health, and University of Texas-San Antonio will focus on actionable care strategies, advanced diagnostics, and the lived experience of athletes and their families. The day-long event is open to clinicians, researchers, former and current athletes, and advocates.

“CTE impacts far more former athletes than previously realized, but there are few opportunities for healthcare providers to receive education on how to approach diagnosis and treatment from experts,” said Chris Nowinski, PhD, CLF co-founder and CEO. “The Concussion Legacy Foundation is excited to bring together leading CTE experts and football families with the goal of improving care for those with suspected CTE.”

Former U.S. Surgeon General Richard Carmona, MD, will keynote a session on the public health implications of CTE, and leading CTE researchers from Australia and the United Kingdom will provide international perspectives.

Physicians and psychologists who attend in-person or virtually can earn up to 6.75 continuing education credits. The Summit steering committee is comprised of leading CTE researchers Mike Alosco, PhD and Ann McKee, MD from Boston University, Robert Cantu, MD of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, and Gil Rabinovici, MD of UCSF.

Conference information and registration can be found at CTESummit.org. While the Summit is tailored to clinical, scientific, and athlete community stakeholders, all interested stakeholders are welcome.

Media members interested in attending are asked to reach out to Julia Manning at [email protected].