The NFL concussion settlement has no cap, and as of October 12, 2026 the claims administrator had approved $1,730,990,182 in awards on 2,216 claims. The 2026 payout grid pays up to $6,103,448 for ALS and up to $4,272,413 for Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease, for a player diagnosed before age 45 and before any reductions. Only players who registered by August 7, 2017 can claim, and each claim must be filed within two years of a qualifying diagnosis.
This guide covers the 2026 payout grid, what reduces an award, who can still claim, and why so many claims are denied or audited. The figures come from the settlement's official website and its filed reports, and they change as the program pays claims.
At a glance: the NFL concussion settlement in October 2026
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is it? | An uncapped class settlement (MDL 2323) approved April 22, 2015 and effective January 7, 2017. The fund runs for 65 years, to January 7, 2082. |
| Who is covered? | Retired NFL, AFL and World League of American Football players who registered by August 7, 2017. At October 12, 2026, 20,564 people were registered: 15,708 players, 1,523 representatives and 3,333 derivative claimants. |
| How much has been approved? | $1,730,990,182 on 2,216 awards, about $781,000 per award on average before holdbacks. $1,673,104,707 has been paid to players and representatives. |
| Who can still file a new claim? | A registered player with a qualifying diagnosis made after February 6, 2017, filed within 2 years of the diagnosis (4 years with substantial hardship). |
| What is closed? | Registration (August 7, 2017), death with CTE claims (February 6, 2019) and new claims under the race-norming settlement (March 4, 2024). |
| Free baseline exams? | The baseline assessment program closes June 7, 2027, with an earlier age-based deadline for players born after June 6, 1974. See the official key dates. |
How much does the NFL concussion settlement pay? The 2026 payout grid
Each qualifying diagnosis has a grid amount that depends on the player's age at diagnosis and the number of Eligible Seasons (credited seasons). The grid is adjusted for inflation, and the Special Masters applied a 2.5% increase on January 13, 2026. The table shows the 2026 maximum for a player diagnosed before age 45 with five or more Eligible Seasons, before reductions and holdbacks, next to the original 2015 amount.
| Qualifying diagnosis | 2026 maximum | Original 2015 amount |
|---|---|---|
| ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) | $6,103,448 | $5,000,000 |
| Parkinson's disease | $4,272,413 | $3,500,000 |
| Alzheimer's disease | $4,272,413 | $3,500,000 |
| Level 2 neurocognitive impairment (moderate dementia) | $3,662,069 | $3,000,000 |
| Level 1.5 neurocognitive impairment (early dementia) | $1,831,034 | $1,500,000 |
The amount falls with age. For ALS, the 2026 grid is $3,295,862 for a player diagnosed at 65. Death with CTE awards were available only to players who died before April 22, 2015, and that filing window closed on February 6, 2019. The program made 80 such awards, totaling $93,908,585.
What reduces an NFL concussion settlement award?
- Seasons played. A full award needs five Eligible Seasons. The reduction is 10% at 4.5 seasons and 80% at one season, so a one-season player receives 20% of the grid amount.
- Age at diagnosis. The older the player, the lower the grid amount, as the ALS example above shows.
- Other conditions. In some cases a prior stroke or traumatic brain injury cuts an award by 75%, and a player who skipped the baseline exam can face a 10% offset.
- Holdbacks and fees. A 1% common-benefit holdback (cut from 5% by a December 21, 2023 order), liens such as Medicare and Medicaid, and lawyers' fees, which are capped at 22% of the award unless the court approves more.
Who can still claim from the NFL concussion settlement?
Registration closed on August 7, 2017, and late registration is allowed only for an acceptable excuse. A registered player, or a representative or family member of a deceased player, can still file a claim for a qualifying diagnosis made after February 6, 2017. The deadline is two years from the diagnosis, or four years with substantial hardship. The qualifying diagnoses are ALS, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Level 2 neurocognitive impairment and Level 1.5 neurocognitive impairment, and the diagnosis must follow the settlement's medical criteria.
The Baseline Assessment Program gives eligible players free neurological and neuropsychological exams. These exams create a record that can help show later decline. The program closes June 7, 2027.
Why are so many NFL concussion claims denied or audited?
In the administrator's October 12, 2026 report, about 40% of the 4,460 claims it counted (1,784) were denied, 2,072 were paid, 424 were withdrawn and 180 were pending. Claims can also be audited: the Claims Administrator audits a random 10% of claims each month, plus claims that fit certain fact patterns. The Appeals Advisory Panel, a separate panel, reviewed 128 claims in the second quarter of 2026.
Audits have recently focused on possible fraud:
- June 8, 2026. The Special Masters issued an audit decision on 98 Parkinson's claims submitted by five law firms. It denied the pending claims it implicated (players may resubmit with new independent evaluations), required co-counsel and full-record disclosure, added objective-testing safeguards and excluded diagnoses by named non-program physicians. ESPN reported that more than $87 million in claims was targeted. Objections to the decision were filed in September 2026.
- Second quarter of 2026. The program made 50 awards ($48,360,312), issued 25 denials and had 27 active audits.
- August 11, 2026. The administrator said it would revisit its diagnostic criteria.
- February 3, 2026. The court case was reassigned to Judge Joshua D. Wolson.
Race-norming, a testing adjustment that assumed lower baseline scores for Black players, was a separate controversy. A settlement ending it was approved on March 4, 2022, and the deadline for new claims under that settlement passed on March 4, 2024.
How do I file an NFL concussion claim or appeal a denial?
- Confirm your registration. Only players who registered by August 7, 2017, or who had an accepted excuse, can claim.
- Get a qualifying diagnosis. Use a physician who follows the settlement's criteria.
- File the claim package. Send the diagnosis, medical records and proof of NFL service to the claims administrator, BrownGreer, through the official site.
- Answer audit requests quickly. Provide complete, certified records.
- Appeal a denial on time. An appeal costs $1,000, refunded if you win. Follow the deadline in your denial letter.
Talk to a lawyer about a denied claim or a brain injury
If your NFL concussion claim was denied or audited, or you or a family member has a brain injury from another cause, contact The Nguyen Law Firm or call (713) 747-7777 for a free, confidential review. You can also read about concussion settlement values outside the NFL program and the symptoms of a traumatic brain injury, or learn how our Houston personal injury lawyers handle these cases.
This article provides general information, not legal advice. Program figures come from the settlement administrator's reports as of October 12, 2026 and change over time.
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