Former Players File Lawsuit Against Kansas City Chiefs

Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

The Kansas City Chiefs are reportedly being sued by five former players in regard to how the organization allegedly handled head injuries and concussions.

Per the report from Bill Draper of the Associated Press, Leonard Griffin, Chris Martin, Joe Phillips, Alexander Louis Cooper and Kevin Porter are all suing the Chiefs.

"The lawsuit, filed in Jackson County Circuit Court on behalf of former players Leonard Griffin, Chris Martin, Joe Phillips, Alexander Louis Cooper and Kevin Porter — all of whom played on defense — seeks more than $15,000 in actual and punitive damages. All five players have opted out of a multimillion-dollar settlement announced this summer that would compensate former players for their head injuries.The Kansas City plaintiffs claim to be suffering from post-concussion syndrome and latent brain disease because of multiple concussions they sustained while playing for the Chiefs. They all claim also to be suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which can only be definitively diagnosed by examining the brain after death."

Draper went on to explain more of the premise behind the lawsuit:

"The lawsuit says the Chiefs ignored decades of research indicating that concussions cause long-term brain damage, instead referring to the injuries as “getting your bell rung” or a “ding.” It accuses the team of lying to players in saying concussions are not serious injuries."

This is a very serious ordeal for the Chiefs and it’s something that may drag up some uncomfortable truths. Let’s face it, when these players were in the NFL, we weren’t aware of the damage that head injuries and concussions can cause to the human body and psyche—both short-term and long-term. And even if we were aware as a football society, the prevailing thought was that it was an honor to get your “bell rung”, and that it was part of the game. It just proved to you and your coaches that you were playing hard and not holding anything back.

Today, caution is obviously exercised in regard to head injuries. Back then, you would have been looked down upon for complaining of one.

Because of that prevailing mindset, these five former Chiefs may have a great case against the organization.

This is obviously a story that we’ll follow in-depth, so keep it locked here.