Merril Hoge

Find. A. Way. Three simple words, yet when composed in a sentence, Merril Hoge has proven that these can be the most powerful words in the English language. His find-a-way attitude helped him tackle each challenge head-on; from childhood trauma and bullying to battling cancer and concussions.

He had a successful NFL career with the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Chicago Bears, but it ended prematurely due to improper care. In the years since his career-ending head trauma, Merril has championed concussion research, resisted the hysteria surrounding the disease, and become an informed advocate for the prevention and treatment of brain injuries.

In 2018, with the national discussion on Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) at its peak, Merril released a book titled Brainwashed: The Bad Science Behind CTE and the Plot to Destroy Football. He collaborated on the project with board-certified forensic neuropathologist, Dr. Peter Cummings, to take an unbiased look at the facts surrounding this misunderstood pattern. Together, they conducted a provocative examination of the science, as well as the hysteria around CTE and how it is being manipulated to serve an agenda.