Ralph Wenzel (guard)

Not to be confused with Ralph Wenzel (end).

Ralph Wenzel
Date of birth(1943-03-14)March 14, 1943
Place of birthSan Mateo, California, U.S.
Date of deathJune 18, 2012(2012-06-18) (aged 69)
Place of deathSan Mateo, California, U.S.
Career information
Position(s)Guard
US collegeSan Diego State University
NFL draft1966 / round: 11 / Pick 168
(By the Green Bay Packers)
Career history
As player
1966–1970Pittsburgh Steelers
1972–1973San Diego Chargers
Career stats

Ralph Richard Wenzel (March 14, 1943 – June 18, 2012) was a professional American football player who played guard for seven seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers.[1]

Early onset of dementia

Wenzel's name gained notoriety in late 2009, when Wenzel's wife, Dr. Eleanor Perfetto, testified on Wenzel's dementia.[2] Perfetto testified that Wenzel's football career probably had a causal effect with his dementia.

Wenzel was later confirmed to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy(CTE).[3] He is one of at least 345 NFL players to be diagnosed after death with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is caused by repeated hits to the head.[4][5]

References

  1. ^ Schwarz, Alan. "Ralph Wenzel, Whose Dementia Helped Start a Debate, Dies at 69," The New York Times, Saturday, June 23, 2012.
  2. ^ "Goodell Defends N.F.L.'s Handling of Head Injuries". The New York Times. October 28, 2009. Retrieved April 11, 2010.
  3. ^ Ken Belson and Alan Schwarz, The N.F.L.'s Tragic C.T.E. Roll Call, The New York Times, March 15, 2016
  4. ^ "The driving force behind Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)". Concussion Legacy Foundation. Archived from the original on July 2, 2023. Retrieved July 2, 2023.
  5. ^ Ken Belson and Benjamin Mueller (June 20, 2023). "Collective Force of Head Hits, Not Just the Number of Them, Increases Odds of C.T.E. The largest study of chronic traumatic encephalopathy to date found that the cumulative force of head hits absorbed by players in their careers is the best predictor of future brain disease". The New York Times. Retrieved July 2, 2023.


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