NYC Gunman Mentioned Former NFL Player In His Note: Report originally appeared on The Spun.
It’s becoming increasingly likely that New York City gunman Shane Tamura’s assault on 345 Park Avenue was related to a disdain for the National Football League and his own CTE symptoms. A new detail in the ongoing investigation provided yet more evidence of that.
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According to the New York Post, the three-page letter found in Tamura’s pockets after he took his own life in the shooting made reference to a former NFL player who was later found to have CTE.
The note made a reference to former Pittsburgh Steelers offensive lineman Terry Long, who took his own life by drinking antifreeze back in 2005 and was later diagnosed with CTE.
“Terry Long football gave me CTE and it caused me to drink a gallon of antifreeze,” the note said, per the Post’s sources. “You can’t go against the NFL, they’ll squash you.”
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“Please study brain for CTE,” the note later said. “I’m sorry. The league knowingly concealed the dangers to our brains to maximize profits. They failed us.”
New York City mayor Eric Adams confirmed on Tuesday that Tamura is believed to have been targeting the NFL’s headquarters at 345 Park Avenue.
“It appears as though he was going after the employees of the NFL,” Adams said.
“We’re still going through the suicide note to zero in on the exact reason, but at this time it appears as if it’s something attached to his belief he experienced CTE from the NFL.”
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CHARLOTTE, NC – SEPTEMBER 01: A detailed view of a Pittsburgh Steelers helmet before their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on September 1, 2016 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)
Assuming an autopsy on Tamura’s brain is done, it wouldn’t be a surprise if he winds up having CTE. The dangerous brain condition has been found in players who have died in both terrible tragedies or after committing terrible crimes.
A 2023 report found that 345 of 376 deceased former NFL players had CTE. By contrast, a prior study of 164 autopsies had only one case of CTE among all of them – and that one person previously played college football.
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But aside from trying to design helmets that cushion NFL hits more and generally limit the number of big hits, there isn’t much of an interest in really preventing CTE. If anything, the league frequently faces pushback from fans for making the game too soft.
The consensus among fans is clear: They want the big hits and the danger, and they’re willing to pay top dollar for it.
So long as players are willing to accept those risks, CTE will probably continue to remain prevalent. Though in “accepting those risk,” they may ultimately be taking a Faustian bargain.
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Related: Jason Kelce Believes He Has CTE, Reflects on NFL Career and Health
NYC Gunman Mentioned Former NFL Player In His Note: Report first appeared on The Spun on Jul 29, 2025
This story was originally reported by The Spun on Jul 29, 2025, where it first appeared.