New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo is once again at the center of conversation—this time over comments about CTE and asthma that quickly drew backlash and prompted a public response from both the player and his mother.
The situation began after Skattebo appeared on a podcast and was asked about chronic traumatic encephalopathy. When questioned if the condition was real, he replied, “No,” and also referred to asthma as an “excuse.”
Skattebo later addressed the reaction directly, acknowledging the tone of his comments. “I recently did an interview and had a lapse in judgment, which resulted in me making a tasteless joke about CTE and asthma,” he wrote on X. “It was never my intention to downplay the seriousness of head injuries or asthma.”
He added, “I sincerely apologize to anyone that was offended by my remarks… I’ll be more mindful and respectful going forward.”
His mother, Becky Skattebo, stepped in soon after, offering a more personal explanation of what she described as sarcasm that didn’t land publicly.
“If only people knew how many times Cam had to ‘run and get mom’s inhaler’ they’d realize the sarcasm,” she wrote. “You’ll never make everyone happy and you’ll never say all the right things.”
The topics he referenced carry real weight inside the NFL. According to Fox News, CTE has been linked to repeated head impacts, with research showing more than 100 former players diagnosed posthumously.
Within his own locker room, quarterback Jaxson Dart was evaluated multiple times for concussions last season and missed games after being diagnosed.
The moment adds to a series of instances where Skattebo’s words or actions have drawn attention beyond football. Earlier this year, he made headlines for suggesting a potential future in WWE after his NFL career.
“There’s a chance,” he said. “I feel like I’m a pretty good actor.”
