Sports · American Football · 1 hr ago
Former NFL player sues NCAA, alleging football concussions led to Parkinson’s
Former Syracuse and NFL punter Patrick O'Neill is suing the NCAA over head injuries he says he suffered playing college football from 1990 to 1993.
The 55-year-old alleges that repeated concussions led to his Parkinson’s disease, which affects movement and can worsen over time.
O'Neill says he was encouraged to keep playing without being told the risks and was not taken off the field for examination, treatment or recovery.
He left the NFL in 1998 to study medicine and later worked as an orthopedic surgeon in Florida.
He says Parkinson’s symptoms have forced him to stop practicing as a surgeon, bringing his medical career to an early end.
The lawsuit accuses the NCAA of negligence and says it should have protected players and informed them about head-injury risks.
The lawsuit seeks to hold the NCAA responsible, and the NCAA has been contacted for comment.
Former college and NFL player Patrick O’Neill has sued the NCAA, alleging repeated head injuries during college football caused him to develop Parkinson’s disease.
The lawsuit claims the NCAA failed to protect his health and inform him of the risks of playing.
O’Neill says the disease has harmed his ability to work as an orthopedic surgeon.
He played college football for Syracuse University from 1990 to 1993 and later played in the NFL.
- Who
- Patrick O’Neill, a former college and NFL punter, is suing the NCAA.
- What
- He alleges repeated concussions during his college football career caused Parkinson’s disease and that the NCAA failed to protect him or inform him of the risks.
- When
- The article was published on November 15, 2026. The lawsuit’s filing date is not stated.
- Where
- O’Neill played college football at Syracuse University and currently practices at Kennedy-White Orthopedic Center in Sarasota, Florida.
- Why
- O’Neill alleges the NCAA’s negligence and failure to disclose risks led to his illness and harmed his medical career.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
O’Neill played college football for Syracuse University.
The New England Patriots selected O’Neill in the fifth round of the NFL Draft.
O’Neill left the NFL to pursue a career in medicine.
The Daily Mail reported that O’Neill had sued the NCAA.
- Plaintiff
- Patrick O’Neill
- College team
- Syracuse University, 1990–1993
- NFL draft
- Fifth round, 1994, New England Patriots
- Medical career
- Left the NFL in 1998 to pursue medicine
- Current practice
- Kennedy-White Orthopedic Center, Sarasota, Florida
What people are saying
The NCAA failed to protect Patrick O'Neill's health and safety, because it failed to make the game of football as safe as possible, and because it failed to keep Patrick O'Neill informed so he could make reasonable decisions about whether to play college football and how to play it safely
This brain disease has forced Patrick O'Neill to suffer great loss, including in his ability to practice as an orthopedic surgeon