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ESPN broadcaster steps down due to growing concerns about football
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For nearly 20 years, Ed Cunningham had one of the best jobs in all of sports, broadcasting college football games for ESPN. It’s the type of job most people dream about.
But Cunningham will no longer be in the booth. After almost two decades, the longtime ESPN broadcaster has stepped away from the position, citing the growing dangers of football as the primary reason.
In a story for the New York Times, Cunningham explained his decision to resign from his position and the discomfort he felt about the relationship between football and brain damage.
“I take full ownership of my alignment with the sport,” he said. “I can just no longer be in that cheerleader’s spot.
“In its current state, there are some real dangers: broken limbs, wear and tear,” Cunningham said. “But the real crux of this is that I just don’t think the game is safe for the brain. To me, it’s unacceptable.”
Cunningham helped the Washington Huskies claim a national title in 1991 before a five-year career in the NFL.
In the story for the New York Times, Cunningham was also concerned about ex-football players committing suicide, something he believes could be a result of the brain trauma suffered by playing the sport.
Dustin grew up in the heart of Big Ten country and has been in sports media since 2010. He has been covering Big Ten football since 2014. You can follow him on Twitter: @SchutteCFB