NFL donates $30 million for medical research, player safety

The NFL announced a $30 million donation for medical research. (Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)

The NFL announced a $30 million donation to the National Institutes to Health on Wednesday, the largest in the league’s history, reports NFL.com.

The funding is going to be used at the discretion of National Institutes to Health, which is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

A release from the league said the money will go to research on “chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE); concussion management and treatment; and the understanding of the potential relationship between traumatic brain injury and late-life neurodegenerative disorders, especially Alzheimer’s disease.”

Currently, more than 3,400 ex-players and family members are suing the NFL, claiming the league has been negligent in dealing with concussions.

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the donation has nothing to do with concussion lawsuit and that the league has been doing research since the 1990′s.

“Well, there’s a lot more work to be done, is the bottom line. There’s a much greater awareness about head injuries and concussions and the importance of treating them conservatively and cautiously,” Goodell said.