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The league and the NFL Players Association
agreed as part of the collective bargaining agreement in 2020 to
reduce the league-paid disability benefits by the amount the
players received from the government. The new financial
agreement was set to take effect in January 2024, delayed after
pushback from affected retired players and some union leaders.
"The NFL was responsive to the NFLPA's proposal and has agreed
to make the necessary change to prevent those specific former
players from having a reduction in this benefit," the league and
union said jointly.
"Our Executive Committee understands the importance and legacy
of our union's support of former players in need, and we are
proud that we fought for a solution to preserve this benefit for
former players who need it the most," the NFLPA said in a
statement Thursday.
The New York Times reported Thursday that the decision applies
to the 400 or so players already in the retirement system. In
the future, players ruled totally disabled by a doctor hired by
the Social Security Administration will see their league
benefits reduced by the amount of the government payout.
The Times said that while some of the players who receive pay
for total disability get as much as $22,000 a month, most
receive about half that. Those who Social Security doctors have
determined qualify for payments receive $3,200 a month from the
government.
--Field Level Media
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