Former NFL punter turned orthopedic surgeon Patrick O’Neill is suing the NCAA, alleging that repeated concussions during his college football career caused lasting neurological damage and ultimately ended his medical career after he developed Parkinson’s disease.
O’Neill, 55, was an Academic All-American and University Scholar at Syracuse University, where he played football on scholarship from 1990 to 1993.
In court documents, he claims he was encouraged to continue playing after sustaining head injuries and was not adequately informed about the potential long-term risks of repeated concussions.
“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,” the lawsuit against the NCAA says. The complaint was filed Nov. 2 in Manhattan Supreme Court.
After college, O’Neill was drafted in 1994 as an NFL punter. He played for the New England Patriots, Chicago Bears, New York Jets and Jacksonville Jaguars, and was named the NFL’s All-Rookie punter during his first professional season with the Patriots.
O’Neill soon left the NFL to pursue his long-held goal of becoming a physician. In 1998, he was accepted to Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine in Baltimore.
He went on to build a successful career as a surgeon and became chief of orthopedic surgery at Sarasota Memorial Hospital.
O’Neill now practices at Kennedy-White Orthopedic Center in Sarasota, Florida. He is the only board-certified, fellowship-trained foot and ankle orthopedic surgeon in the county.
CHECK THIS OUT: Who Is Naresh Bhatt? Nurse Mamta Kafle Bhatt Murder Trial
“This brain disease has forced Patrick O’Neill to suffer great loss, including in his ability to practice as an orthopedic surgeon,” his complaint alleges.
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative neurological disorder that can cause tremors, slowed movement and other symptoms that progressively worsen over time.
O’Neill alleges that the NCAA knew about the dangers associated with repeated head trauma but failed to adequately warn or protect college athletes.
He claims the organization lacked sufficient concussion-related safeguards and knew repeated head injuries had been linked to Parkinson’s disease as early as the 1930s, yet failed to take appropriate measures to protect players.
The lawsuit also alleges that the NCAA disregarded medical recommendations calling for athletes to be barred from contact sports after suffering three moderate concussions.
“Without competent medical professionals properly versed in repetitive head trauma on the sidelines, Patrick O’Neill repeatedly sustained trauma to his head in games and/or practice in NCAA football,” the complaint alleges.
“Despite the trauma, Patrick O’Neill was never removed from the field for examination, rest, and treatment.”
The NCAA, Syracuse University, O’Neill and his attorney did not respond to requests for comment.
