New York Giants running back Cam Skattebo has issued an apology over his controversial comments downplaying the seriousness of two well-documented medical conditions, Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) and asthma.
“I recently did an interview and had a lapse in judgment, which resulted in me making a tasteless joke about CTE and asthma,” Skattebo, 24, wrote via X on Saturday, March 21. “It was never my intention to downplay the seriousness of head injuries or asthma.”
He continued, “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. Much love!!!”
Earlier this month, Skattebo was asked whether he believed that CTE was “a real thing.” (CTE is a degenerative brain disease likely caused by repeated head injuries, according to the Mayo Clinic.)
“No, it’s an excuse,” Skattebo said on a March episode of the “Bring the Juice” podcast, also agreeing with host Frank Delana’s own opinion that asthma is similarly an excuse. The football stay continued, “That’s valid. Yes, asthma’s fake.”
Asthma, per Mayo Clinic, is a condition where the airways narrow and swell that can make breathing extremely difficult, causing wheezing, coughing, chest tightness and shortness of breath. There is no known cure.
Delana, for his part, subsequently made a joke about individuals who have asthma.
“Is there anything worse than and someone’s huffing and puffing,” he quipped. “You’re just soft.”
Skattebo concurred, adding, “Yeah, just literally breathe air.”
Skattebo was drafted by the Giants in April 2025, playing his rookie season with the team until he sustained a gruesome ankle injury the following October.
“[I] feel absolutely terrible for the young man,” Giants head coach Brian Daboll told reporters at the time. “Obviously I saw it. It looked bad. You feel for anybody on your team that goes down and has a really bad injury. And I feel, and I know the players feel the same way about Skat.”
The pro athlete underwent surgery to repair his dislocated ankle and has since been recuperating to prepare for the 2026-2027 NFL season.
“[My recovery is] on schedule,” Skattebo said during a January press conference about his progress. “I got another week until I start moving around, upping my speed a little bit. Time’s gonna tell, but take it easy. [I] got plenty of time to get back to it.”
He further stressed that making it to the team’s training camp in the summer “was obviously the goal.”
“Hopefully, [I’ll] get back by OTAs,” Skattebo said, referring to the NFL’s voluntary preseason practices. “If not, there’s no rush to it.”
