Former Pro Bowl guard Conrad Dobler, once dubbed the NFL's "dirtiest player," had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at the time of his death in 2023, his family announced through the Concussion Legacy Foundation on Wednesday.
Dobler was diagnosed with Stage 3 CTE by researchers at the Boston University CTE Center. CTE is a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated blows to the head that can only be diagnosed after death. Stage 4 is the most severe diagnosis.
"My dad loved the game of football, but his love for the game took a toll on his body, his mind, and his relationships," Erin Lewin, Dobler's daughter, said in a statement.