Abdul El-Sayed’s Comments Put Michigan Wolverines Fans in Pickle

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan football is more than a Saturday afternoon entertainment product. It is a tradition passed between generations, a major part of the university’s identity and one of the biggest sporting institutions in the country. That makes Abdul El-Sayed’s comments about football worth examining. On his podcast in 2023, El-Sayed discussed the long-term consequences of football, including chronic traumatic encephalopathy and serious injuries. He acknowledged that he loved the sport but questioned whether its physical toll could be justified. That is a legitimate public-health discussion.