Cam Skattebo
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New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo.
As much credit as we want to give them for living on some elevated plane of existence because they’re rich and good at football, the reality is that NFL players are more like us than we think.
Mainly in that they’re not perfect. They say stupid things now and then and should be given some measure of grace when they do — opportunities to learn from their mistakes and move forward.
Except for Cam Skattebo. The New York Giants running back recently said something almost too stupid to comprehend, and Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend Gerald McCoy is calling him out after Skattebo was asked during a recent interview whether he thinks CTE is real.
“No, it’s an excuse,” Skattebo said. “Ashthma’s fake, too … you’re just soft (if you have either condition_.”
McCoy, who played defensive tackle for the Buccaneers from 2010 to 2018, didn’t take kindly to Skattebo’s ignorance.
“I have teammates that passed away,” McCoy said on The Arena podcast. “Vincent Jackson … Doug Martin, anybody who knows Doug knows that wasn’t Doug. Let’s be careful on the things we are saying because you never know who it affects.”
Cam Skattebo Apologized After Public Backlash
Skattebo, a 4th round pick (No. 105 overall) by the Giants in the 2025 NFL draft, faced widespread backlash after his comments went viral and issued a quick apology.
“I recently did an interview and had a lapse in judgment, which resulted in me making a tasteless joke about CTE and asthma. It was never my intention to downplay the seriousness of head injuries or asthma,” Skattebo wrote on X. “I sincerely apologize to anyone that was offended by my remarks, and I assure you that I’ll be more mindful and respectful going forward.”
He did, however, have 1 staunch defender — his mama.
“If only people knew how many times cam had to ‘run and get mom’s inhaler’ they’d realize the sarcasm … you’ll never make everyone happy and you’ll never say all the right things and people are bound to spin something sooner or later in a direction it was never intended to go,” Becky Skattebo wrote on X.
Tragic Ends for Pair of Former Buccaneers
Both Jackson and Martin are cautionary tales for the dangers of CTE.
Jackson, a 3-time Pro Bowler, played 12 seasons in the NFL. That included his last 5 seasons with the Buccaneers from 2012 to 2016, and Jackson finished his NFL career with 540 receptions for 9,080 yards and 57 touchdowns.
In February 2021, Jackson was found dead in a hotel room in Brandon, Florida, at just 38 years old. The coroner’s report determined Jackson died of chronic alcohol abuse and became 1 of 345 former NFL players to be diagnosed with CTE following their death.
Martin, known as the “Muscle Hamster” during his time with the Buccaneers, was an NFL All-Pro and 2-time Pro Bowler.
In October 2025, Martin died in police custody after a reported break-in at an Oakland, California, residence. He was 36 years old.
“Doug battled mental health challenges that profoundly impacted his personal and professional life,” Athletes First, Martin’s agents, said in a prepared statement following his death. “Doug’s parents were actively seeking medical assistance for him and had contacted local authorities for support. Feeling overwhelmed and disoriented, Doug fled his home during the night and entered a neighbor’s residence two doors down, where he was taken into custody by police. An investigation into what transpired as he was detained is underway.”