Giants RB Cam Skattebo apologizes for his ‘tasteless joke’
New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo acknowledged that he experienced a “lapse in judgment” when he remarked that chronic traumatic encephalopathy and asthma were not legitimate conditions.
I recently participated in an interview and experienced a lapse in judgment, which led me to make an inappropriate joke about CTE and asthma. He stated on X on Saturday, “It was never my intention to diminish the seriousness of head injuries or asthma.” “I truly apologize to anyone who was hurt by my comments, and I promise to be more considerate and respectful in the future. “Much love.”
The apology followed a discussion he participated in as a recent guest on the “Bring the Juice” podcast. The host inquired of Skattebo whether he believed CTE was a genuine condition. “No, it’s an excuse,” Skattebo replied, shaking his head.
In early 2023, the CTE Center at Boston University announced that it had examined the brains of 376 former NFL players, revealing that 345 were diagnosed with CTE, a degenerative brain disease linked to repetitive head impacts in athletes. Diagnosis is only possible post-mortem, and among those identified with CTE are Pro Football Hall of Fame member Junior Seau and former New England Patriots tight end Aaron Hernandez.
During the podcast, Skattebo, 24, was also asked whether asthma can be considered an “excuse.”
“No, that’s an insightful perspective,” he remarked. “Indeed, asthma is also a fabrication.”
Over 28 million individuals, or one in 12, suffer from asthma, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America.
His mother expressed that she is part of that group and that her son was trying to be amusing. “If only people understood how often Cam had to ‘run and get Mom’s inhaler,’ they would see the sarcasm…you can’t please everyone, and it’s impossible to always say the right things; eventually, someone will twist things in a way that was never meant to be,” Becky Skattebo shared on X.
An X account associated with Garrett Webster, who claimed to be the son of former Pittsburgh Steelers legend Mike Webster, took a moment to provide some advice to Skattebo.
“Mr. Skattebo, my father was Mike Webster. You may not be familiar with him, but he endured CTE, which stands for chronic traumatic encephalopathy, a degenerative brain disease often associated with repeated head injuries. I’m pleased that you acknowledge your words were inappropriate. It is important to recognize that CTE has had a devastating impact on the lives of numerous former players and their families. Improve in the future. The elder Webster was the center on four Super Bowl-championship Steelers teams and was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1997. He passed away in 2002 at the age of 50.
The Giants chose Skattebo in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft. He played in eight games (five as a starter), rushing for 410 yards and scoring five touchdowns, while also contributing 207 yards and two touchdowns through pass receptions, before suffering a season-ending ankle injury.
