NFL Concussion Settlement: Still Paying, With a 2027 Exam Deadline
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The NFL concussion settlement is not a closed case. It has paid claims since it took effect on January 7, 2017, and its award fund runs for 65 years. As of October 5, 2026, 2,217 awards worth $1,731,132,270 were payable. Two things are in the news: a June 8, 2026 audit decision on 98 Parkinson’s claims, and the free baseline exam program, which ends June 7, 2027. Only retired NFL players and their families can claim.
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Reviewed by Leonard Goldberg, Editor · Last updated
What the Original Lawsuit Was About
Thousands of retired players sued the NFL alleging that the league long hid what it knew about the neurological risks of playing after concussions. The NFL agreed to settle in 2013 without admitting those allegations. The deal is uncapped: there is no fixed pot that can run dry, and the league pays approved awards as they come in.
In exchange, class members who did not opt out by October 14, 2014 gave up the right to sue the NFL over the claims the settlement resolves. The settlement pays for diagnosed conditions, not for having played: Death with CTE (only for players who died before April 22, 2015), ALS, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and Level 2 and Level 1.5 Neurocognitive Impairment (moderate and early dementia).
Case Details
In re: National Football League Players’ Concussion Injury Litigation, No. 2:12-md-02323, MDL No. 2323, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Senior U.S. District Judge Anita B. Brody granted final approval on April 22, 2015; the settlement became effective on January 7, 2017, when all appeals ended. BrownGreer PLC is the court-appointed Claims Administrator, and on July 17, 2025 the court also made it Lien Resolution Administrator, replacing Epiq. Two court-appointed Special Masters decide appeals and oversee fraud prevention. Official site: nflconcussionsettlement.com.
Status: Paying Out, Under a Fraud Audit
The Parkinson’s audit. On June 8, 2026 the Special Masters issued a 51-page Rule 27 decision on an audit of 98 Parkinson’s claims developed through five law firms. The decision found a coordinated pattern that undermined the diagnostic process. Per Sportico, 57 of those claims had already been paid, totaling over $95 million, and 37 pending claims are subject to denial. Those players may resubmit based on new, independent evaluations. The decision does not say any player lacks Parkinson’s, and it is not a criminal case. Whether anyone has challenged it in court could not be confirmed as of October 2026.
The diagnosis dispute. The Special Masters back the Gelb Criteria for Parkinson’s, which focus on motor symptoms such as tremor and stiffness. Some players’ attorneys argue those criteria are too narrow and screen out valid claims; the NFL disputes that.
Race-norming (resolved). A 2020 lawsuit by two Black former players alleged that dementia testing used race-based norms that made it harder for Black players to qualify. Judge Brody dismissed that suit but ordered the parties to fix the problem. On March 4, 2022 she approved the Norming Agreement, which removed race from scoring.
Who Can Claim
Retired players: anyone on an NFL, AFL, World League or NFL Europe roster before July 7, 2014 who was no longer under contract on or after that date.
Representative Claimants: court-appointed representatives of a player who has died or is legally incapacitated. They may still register within 180 days of their appointment.
Derivative Claimants: certain family members, such as spouses, who have a claim through a player.
Fans, youth and college players, and current players are not in this class. The deadline for players to register was August 7, 2017. Late registration is accepted only with a showing of good cause.
What It Pays — and the Deadlines That Matter
Claim deadline: for diagnoses after February 6, 2017, the claim package is due within two years of the diagnosis date. Extensions require proof of substantial hardship. Since January 7, 2017, dementia diagnoses (Level 1.5 or 2) must come from a program BAP provider or a Qualified MAF Physician.
Baseline exam deadline: the free Baseline Assessment Program (BAP) exam must be attended by June 7, 2027. The administrator asks for appointment requests by December 31, 2026; later requests may not get a slot. As of October 5, 2026, 17,463 BAP appointments had been attended.
How cases like this one end
Our copy of the federal courts’ own case database covers 111,990 other personal injury casesclosed in U.S. federal district courts between 2015 and 2025, 3.6% of them filed as class actions:
- 39.9% ended in a settlement recorded by the court. Another 13.8% were dismissed voluntarily, which often follows a private settlement — so the real settlement share sits between 39.9% and 53.7%.
- 5.7% were decided on a motion before any trial.
- 1 in 106 reached a trial (0.9%), after a median of 23.9 months.
- Median time from filing to the end of the case: 9 months.
- Only 771 of them (0.7%) record a money award at all; the median of those is $500,000.
These are base rates for this type of case (federal other personal injury cases) — not a prediction about this lawsuit, and not legal advice. Source: Federal Judicial Center, Integrated Database (civil), analysed by Settlement Insight. Cases heard in state courts are not included.
NFL Concussion Settlement Timeline
- 1
April 22, 2015 — Final Approval
Judge Brody grants final approval in MDL No. 2323. The opt-out deadline had already passed on October 14, 2014.
- 2
January 7, 2017 — Settlement Takes Effect
Appeals end and the 65-year Monetary Award Fund starts. The baseline exam program begins on June 6, 2017; player registration closes August 7, 2017.
- 3
March 4, 2022 — Race-Norming Ends
The court approves the Norming Agreement, removing race-based norms from dementia testing and opening rescoring for affected players.
- 4
July 17, 2025 — New Lien Administrator
The court appoints BrownGreer PLC to replace Epiq as Lien Resolution Administrator. BrownGreer remains the Claims Administrator.
- 5
June 8, 2026 — Parkinson’s Audit Decision
The Special Masters rule on 98 Parkinson’s claims tied to five law firms. Implicated pending claims are denied, with the right to resubmit after independent evaluation.
- 6
June 7, 2027 — Last Day for BAP Exams
Initial and Expanded baseline exams must be attended by this date. The administrator asks for requests by December 31, 2026.
Three Things to Watch For
Seven-figure awards and an audit about outside diagnoses create specific traps:
“Claim your NFL concussion money” ads for anyone
Only retired NFL players on a roster before July 7, 2014, their court-appointed representatives and certain family members are in the class. Ads aimed at fans, youth or college players are not about this settlement.
Quick outside diagnoses arranged for you
The June 8, 2026 decision describes claims built on outside diagnoses arranged through law firms. Pending claims tied to the scheme are subject to denial, with permission to resubmit on new, independent evaluations, and diagnoses that rely on certain identified non-Program physicians are now excluded. A diagnosis that looks too easy can sink a valid claim.
Calls asking for your portal login
Claims run through the official portal at nflconcussionsettlement.com. Check any call or letter by calling the Claims Administrator at 1-855-887-3485. Report suspected fraud at 1-844-812-5666.
NFL Concussion Settlement — Questions People Actually Ask
Is the NFL concussion settlement still paying?
Yes. As of October 5, 2026, the official statistics show 2,217 payable awards totaling $1,731,132,270. The fund is uncapped and runs for 65 years from January 7, 2017.
Can I still sign up?
Retired players had to register by August 7, 2017. Late registration needs a showing of good cause. A court-appointed representative of a deceased or incapacitated player may register within 180 days of appointment. The opt-out deadline was October 14, 2014.
What conditions qualify for money?
ALS, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Level 2 and Level 1.5 Neurocognitive Impairment (moderate and early dementia), and Death with CTE for players who died before April 22, 2015. A concussion history alone does not qualify.
How much can a player get?
It depends on the diagnosis and age at diagnosis. The January 2026 grid tops out at $6,103,448 for ALS diagnosed under 45. Awards are reduced for fewer than five eligible seasons (10% to 97.5%) and for some prior strokes (75%).
Is there a deadline coming up?
Yes. Baseline (BAP) exams must be attended by June 7, 2027, and the administrator asks for requests by December 31, 2026. Monetary award claims are due within two years of a qualifying diagnosis made after February 6, 2017.
What happened with the Parkinson’s claims in 2026?
On June 8, 2026 the Special Masters ruled on an audit of 98 Parkinson’s claims tied to five law firms. They found a coordinated pattern that undermined the diagnostic process. Pending implicated claims are denied but can be resubmitted after new, independent evaluations. The decision does not say any player lacks Parkinson’s.
What was race-norming and is it fixed?
Dementia testing could treat a player’s race as non-White when scoring, which a 2020 lawsuit alleged made it harder for Black players to qualify. On March 4, 2022 the court approved the Norming Agreement, which removed race from scoring and opened rescoring and new exams for affected players.
Who runs the program and how do I contact them?
BrownGreer PLC is the court-appointed Claims Administrator. The official site is nflconcussionsettlement.com, and the Claims Administrator’s phone number is 1-855-887-3485. You can report suspected fraud at 1-844-812-5666.
Separate from this case: were you injured in the last 2 years?
Class-action payouts are fixed amounts through an administrator. A personal injury claim is a different case — and often worth far more. Free estimate, no obligation.
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