NFL Star’s Brother Slams Team After Latest Concussion

Another Sunday, another concussion—this time, it was Chris Olave, the New Orleans Saints wide receiver and former Ohio State star, who took a frightening hit during the team’s narrow 23-22 loss to the Carolina Panthers.

What might have passed as another brutal NFL Sunday took a turn when Chris’s brother, Josh Olave, spoke up, declaring, “Ain’t worth it in NOLA.” For a rising NFL star, the message was clear: he sees his brother’s health being put on the line in the Big Easy, and he doesn’t like it one bit.

The incident happened in the first quarter, right after Saints QB Derek Carr attempted a high pass downfield. Olave, known for his agility and sure hands, reached out but couldn’t quite secure the ball.

Just then, Carolina safety Xavier Woods delivered a devastating blow, one so severe that it left Olave lying on the field, motionless, as fans in the stadium and at home watched in stunned silence. Woods’s hit was flagged for unnecessary roughness, but the penalty was cold comfort for fans and family members fearing Olave had suffered yet another concussion.

This was no isolated incident for Olave, who’s now endured his second concussion of this season and the fourth of his young career. Experts have long warned of the dangers these injuries pose, linking repeated concussions to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease that has tragically cut short the lives of numerous NFL players.

Even back in 2017, Dr. Ann McKee of Boston University reported that 99% of deceased NFL players studied showed evidence of CTE .

For Josh Olave, enough is enough. When one fan on X (formerly Twitter) suggested it might be time to ask the question, “Is it worth it?” Josh didn’t hold back, responding, “Ain’t worth it in Nola, I’ll tell you that.” His frustration is shared by a growing number of football families who fear that a lifetime of glory and fame is hardly worth the devastating physical cost.

It’s not just Olave’s family raising concerns; former Saints star Michael Thomas called out Carr for making poor decisions that put his teammates in harm’s way. “Dude. Scary and panic and just throw the ball,” Thomas posted, lambasting Carr. Thomas didn’t mince words, adding, “Get him the f out of here he is so ass.” Carr, in a move some critics called “too little, too late,” tried to reach out to Thomas privately after the incident. But as of now, the relationship between Carr and Thomas remains frosty.

Meanwhile, Olave is staying positive despite the concerns swirling around his health. Taking to social media, he assured his fans, saying, “Thank God Preciate all the love & prayers ima be aight.” But with each hit, more and more voices are joining Josh Olave in questioning the high-stakes world of the NFL and asking if the game is worth risking it all.

References:

Boston University CTE Center”