NFL Linemen Show Heavy Heart Artery Plaque

A study of 200 former NFL players found coronary plaque in most participants, many of whom reported no symptoms.

Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Heart Disease

NFL Linemen Show Heavy Heart Artery Plaque

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Would you get a heart scan even if you had no symptoms?

A study of 200 former NFL players found that 86% had coronary plaque, with offensive and defensive linemen showing more plaque and more severe blockages than players at other positions. The research was presented as a poster at the AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 in Chicago.

Why it matters

Fewer than 10% of participants reported symptoms such as chest pain or shortness of breath, and only 12% had a known coronary artery disease diagnosis before the scan. The findings suggest that heart disease may be widespread and undetected among retired professional athletes.

Coronary CT angiography with HeartFlow AI analysis found plaque in 86% of 200 former NFL players, with 24% showing plaque substantial enough to significantly restrict blood flow to the heart. The extracted data does not include a comparison group, so it remains unclear how these rates compare with the general population.

The players

American Heart Association

The AHA is a leading U.S. nonprofit focused on cardiovascular health research, and its Scientific Sessions is one of the field's major annual meetings.

HeartFlow

HeartFlow is a medical technology company whose AI software analyzes coronary CT scans to quantify plaque in the heart's arteries.

The details

The study used the GAMEFILM Registry, a heart-health study for retired professional athletes, with participants having a median age of 57 years and a median BMI of 31. Nearly 80% of detected plaque was noncalcified, and of the 70% of participants not already taking cholesterol-lowering medication, 88% said they were ready to start treatment.

2026: Study presented as a poster at AHA Scientific Sessions 2026 in Chicago.

Health Landscape

The GAMEFILM Registry's imaging of retired NFL players adds to a growing body of research on coronary artery disease in former elite athletes. Because the study relies on CT angiography with AI plaque quantification, it reflects the shift toward detecting subclinical plaque before symptoms appear.

Many people with coronary plaque have no symptoms, so the findings highlight that screening and discussions with a doctor about cholesterol treatment may matter even without chest pain or breathing problems. Among participants not already on cholesterol-lowering medication, most said they were ready to start treatment.

The takeaway

Symptoms are an unreliable guide to heart disease risk, since most participants with plaque reported none. Anyone concerned about their cardiovascular health should discuss screening options and cholesterol management with a clinician.