The settlement is the result of a civil action initiated by Pennsylvania lawyer Jason Luckasevic, who was just 30 years old when, inspired by his friendship with a physician who published a paper suggesting that football caused irreversible brain damage, began reaching out to retired NFL players.
Under the settlement’s terms, retired players or their heirs will receive a maximum payout of $5 million each, depending on the severity of their injury. Players may still “opt out” — reject the terms of the deal and sue the league as individuals.