NFL Alumni Indianapolis Chapter Gives $35K For Concussion Efforts

Bill Schultz’s NFL career spanned almost a decade, including four seasons with the Indianapolis Colts. He says the impact of the hits he took as an offensive lineman in the '90s is still felt today.

"I feel a lot," he said.  "I have memory loss.  I always have ringing in the ears.  I don't sleep well.  Memory loss is the biggest thing. I see that on a day-to-day basis."

Schultz is the president of the NFL Alumni Indianapolis Chapter, which is giving the IU Health Neuroscience Center $35,000 for concussion research, which he hopes will create a safer game.

"I just think it is going to educate people on the proper way to tackle, the proper way to hit and not lead with the crown and those types of things," he said.  "I just think it is going to help the game.  I don't think it is going to hinder the game."

IU Health Medical Director of Neuroscience, Nicholas Barbaro, says the money will be used specifically for an education initiative called “The Brain and Beyond.”

"We are going to spend some time with local teachers next month in one of their downtown conferences discussing with them how we can best work with them to reach out to their students in their science classes to help them get interested in these problems," he said. 

He says the effort will extend beyond brain injuries from athletics, but also include those from accidents such as car crashes.

"We don't really understand with all of the people who play sports, what happens in this very small fraction of people that seem to have long term effects," he said.  "So, what makes that brain different from others."