Five years after his passing, former Detroit Red Wings and Nashville Predators player Greg Johnson has been posthumously diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive brain disease linked to repeated
traumatic brain injuries. The diagnosis was shared on Wednesday by his wife and daughters through the Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF).
“The diagnosis took my breath away,” said Kristin Johnson, Greg’s widow. “Greg’s death shattered our world, and we never once thought this disease was something he struggled with. He experienced very few symptoms that we knew of, but he spoke of his concussions often.”
CTE, which has been increasingly associated with contact sports such as football and hockey, is a degenerative disease caused by repeated head trauma. While still being studied, the disease has been linked to behavioral, cognitive, and emotional issues, as well as a heightened risk of suicide.
Johnson, who played 177 games for the Red Wings across four seasons, began his NHL career in Detroit. After being traded to the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1997, just months before the Red Wings’ Stanley Cup victory, he played for
the Chicago Blackhawks and then joined the Nashville Predators in the 1998 expansion draft. Johnson spent seven seasons with the Predators, serving as their captain from 2002 to 2006.
He returned to the Red Wings as a free agent in 2006 but retired shortly thereafter due to a heart condition discovered during a pre-signing physical. Reflecting on his career, Kristin Johnson revealed that Greg viewed his retirement as a
blessing. “I remember the exact moment he told me his heart condition forcing him to retire was a blessing because he couldn’t take another hit. He knew his hockey career had a profound impact on his brain,” she said.
Greg Johnson tragically died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound on July 7, 2019, at the age of 48. While suicidal tendencies are not definitively listed as a symptom of CTE, studies have shown a strong correlation. According to the CLF, a 2019 study found that a diagnosed concussion doubles the risk of suicide.
Johnson’s daughter, Carson, emphasized the need for greater awareness and accountability within the NHL. “I had no idea what CTE even stood for when my dad took his life,” she said. “Now, understanding that the hits he endured throughout his hockey career damaged his brain, I want all athletes to understand the risks. I want the NHL to start acknowledging it exists and do more to protect its players so other daughters don’t have to lose their fathers.”
According to the CLF, Johnson is one of 17 NHL players formally diagnosed with CTE in studies conducted in the U.S. and Canada. Other diagnosed players include NHL legends Stan Mikita and former Red Wing Bob Probert. The foundation’s research has also found CTE in amateur hockey players and athletes in other contact sports, such as NFL Hall of Famer Junior Seau. The diagnosis of Greg Johnson adds to the growing call for heightened safety measures and awareness in professional and amateur sports.