Roger Goodell Releases Statement on Frank Gifford Autopsy Revealing CTE

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell has responded to a statement from Frank Gifford's family that revealed the Hall of Famer suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE.

Bradd Jaffy of NBC News shared the full statement from Gifford's family about his condition:

Per Zac Jackson of NBC Sports' Pro Football Talk, Goodell's brief statement focused on the NFL's commitment to player safety.

"This work will continue as the health and safety of our players remains our highest priority," Goodell's statement said. "We have more work to do—work that honors great men like Frank Gifford.​"

Gifford spent 12 years in the NFL, from 1952 to 1960 and 1962 to 1964, as a member of the New York Giants. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1977 after racking up 3,609 rushing yards and 5,434 receiving yards with 77 total touchdowns. He also spent nearly 30 years as a sportscaster, best known for his work on Monday Night Football.

In August, Gifford died at the age of 84 from natural causes. CTE has become a common disease diagnosed in former NFL players, with PBS' Frontline finding 87 of 91 deceased players suffered from the degenerative condition.

The league has taken steps to make the game safer by enforcing penalties and fines for helmet-to-helmet hits. It's a process that will unfortunately take time to ensure a contact sport is as safe as possible.