Dr. Gary Steinberg

And my parents didn't let me, which is fortunate because, I mean, I'm sure I would have been put at risk for injuries, not just head injuries, other injuries.

My son, who's a very good athlete, he played four years of high school baseball and soccer, was asked to try out for the quarterback position his senior year.

And we went out to try out, and he decided, you know, with my encouragement, not to play.

Did he go to Gunn High School?

Yeah, he went to Menlo.

Again, it's not incontrovertible, but there is some evidence that multiple headings can cause some concussions and some long-term injury situations.

Again, when I studied this in detail as a 49ers neurosurgeon back in the 90s, there was very little data, although there was some evidence even then that soccer players had a high incidence, and particularly female soccer players had a high incidence of concussion, surprisingly.

But now there's much more evidence that head injuries and even heading the ball may lead to some injury.

Well, I feel the same way.

It is different for professional athletes.

I mean, this is their job.

You know, I remember talking with Steve Young,

at one point about continuing to play or finally deciding to retire.

And I was thinking, what if I was asked to retire as a neurosurgeon at the prime of my career?

It's your profession,

It's your income.

It's how you identify yourself.

Your self-esteem is dependent on it.

Your family maybe put pressure on you as a professional athlete.

If you're not a professional athlete, I think for me, and this is my own opinion individually, I think there's less of a controversy.