News about Jake Plummer

Vince Tobin, the former Arizona Cardinals head coach and longtime defensive coordinator, died on Monday at the age of 79. Tobin spent 28-43 years as the Cardinals' head coach from 1996 to 2000. In Week 8 of the 2000 campaign, he was fired after a 2-5 start. He had one winning season in 1998 but was unable to make the playoffs. The Cardinals defeated Dallas in the wild card game, but lost to Minnesota in the divisional round, 41-21.

Two former Denver Broncos football players have said that they are willing to donate their brains to science in order to support scientific studies into a degenerative brain disorder related to repeated blows to the head. Jeb Putzier, 43 (right), and tight end Jake Plummer, 47 (left), both believe repeated concussions during their careers may have shortened their lives. After death, 99% of ex-NFL players who donated their brain to science were diagnosed with chronic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE, also known as 'punch drunk' syndrome, is a degenerative brain disorder that can be attributed to repeated blows to the head (inset below), showing the difference between a normal brain and one diagnosed with CTE (see chart below). Ex-Bronco Demaryius Thomas died from CTE at the age of 33, as shown above.