PLEASE SIGN THIS PETITION ADVOCATING FOR COMPASSIONATE CARE RELEASE SO THAT JUSTIN BANNAN, CAN GET LIFE SUSTAINING CARE THAT HE NEEDS OUTSIDE OF PRISON FOR TRAUMATIC ENCEPHALOPATHY SYNDROME (TES) WITH DEFINITE CTE (AS SEEN IN THE MOVIE 'CONCUSSION') AND HYDROCEPHALUS THAT REQUIRED THE INSERTION OF A BRAIN SHUNT AND SPECIALTY CARE TO DRAIN SPINAL FLUID FROM HIS BRAIN.

In February of 2022, former Colorado University Buffalo and Denver Broncos football star, Justin Bannan, was sentenced to 16 years in prison for the shooting of an acupuncturist when she opened a door on an office suite while Justin was hiding in the dark from what he believed was the Russian mob; a story too bizarre to be true for a successful businessman, entrepreneur, philanthropist, and family man with no prior criminal record, but one that is a textbook symptom from a person suffering from Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome, the precursor to Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (otherwise known as CTE)  so realistically captured in the movie, 'Concussion'.

At the sentencing, the incredibly compassionate victim of the incident made the plea, "...I strongly believe in forgiveness, rehabilitation, and restorative justice...I would like to request he receive the minimum prison sentence and the maximum probation allowable by law...I do not believe he is a threat to me or anyone else upon release."

Justin is currently 9 months into his sixteen (16) year sentence which is, in effect, a death sentence for someone like him because with CTE his chances of survival, without very specialized medical care that is not available in the Department of Corrections, is minimal. Justin and his family implore you to sign this Petition advocating for his release to an Inpatient Medical Facility where he can get life-sustaining treatment and continue to be monitored under a rigorous probation and rehabilitation program or for clemency from Governor Polis so he can obtain the care he needs. 

While Justin has publicly apologized to the victim for her mental and physical suffering from the incident and to his adopted hometown of Denver for his actions.  Anyone who knows Justin understands that he would not be behind bars if it were not for the symptoms of traumatic brain injury associated with CTE stemming from his twelve (12) years playing professional football. 

1.   Justin had over twenty (20) years of football in his career primarily on the defensive line - the position with the most head to head impact in the sport. Justin was also captain of the "wedge" for kick-off return before it was banned due to the high speed impacts and injuries it was causing. Justin estimates he had 25+ concussions and over 20,000 sub-concussive hits while playing football in his career.

2.   Justin had significant injuries to his knees, shoulders, spine, and head when he finished his career in 2013. He had multiple concussions while playing, blackouts, and extreme head pressure which became more prominent in 2010-2011. In 2009, the NFL did their own independent study on concussions and found that players were 19 times more likely to have a neurodegenerative disease than the general public.

3.   After his successful NFL career, Justin learned investment trading and even appeared on the show Mad Money.  He was also equally active in his community helping to fund and create Buffs4Life, a non-profit which helped former and current student athletes and their families with financial assistance in times of need. He later helped to develop Isplack, a sports products company, helping athletes perform at their best. He also participated in an effort to make supplements to heal the brain after his best friend, CU college teammate, and NFL player, Drew Whalroos, committed suicide and was later confirmed to have CTE.  Justin lost six (6) former friends he played football with during this period to CTE before his own fate would be determined.

4.   In CTE, progression and presentation of symptoms can be triggered by a traumatic event such as a death, divorce, bankruptcy, etc. The symptoms typically start with mood/behavioral issues before cognitive and physical symptoms appear. Justin Bannan's entire twelve (12) year professional career was played in the "dark days" from 2002 when Dr. Ben Omalu first identified CTE and ended in 2013 when the first Concussion lawsuit was brought against the NFL for lack of transparency or care with the players as to the potential long-term effects and severity of brain injuries received while playing.

5.   In Justin's entire career, he was never cited or had a violation of the NFL's steroid or drug policy. Justin also was an outstanding citizen and had a clean record while living in his adopted home state of Colorado.  As his cranial pressure continued to build his mood, focus, and cognitive ability began to decline.  Physical symptoms included light sensitivity, tinnitus, double vision, balance issues, and fear of crowds. Justin soon was unable to remember where he was, what he was supposed to be doing or faces he had seen or worked with before. He experienced anxiety, paranoia, and severe depression along with other telltale symptoms of suspected CTE. 

6.   Since his arrest, Justin has received scans that showed the source of the pressure in his head was spinal fluid leaking into the voids in his skull which created immense pressure. It was determined he would need a brain shunt put in to alleviate the pressure and to allow the fluid to drain. In 2017, Boston University completed its landmark CTE study on the first 111 brains donated from ex-NFL players for examination of which 110 had CTE.  Justin has all the hallmark indicators of CTE. In 2019 Boston University returned with an additional study stating that the risk for CTE increased 30% for every year of football played.

7.   In 2021, after his conviction, the NFL used independent medical doctors to evaluate Justin's physical and mental condition for purposes of disability.  Due to his various physical,including brain,injuries and their severity, he received full physical disability. 

This Petition of Support will be used to pursue a number of legal avenues for Justin's possible release into treatment. Justin is currently rapidly declining in health as he is unable to receive supplements and essential medical treatments which were stabilizing his condition and preventing further neurodegeneration. 

Justin's release to an inpatient facility would not be of any risk to the public in that he is now aware of the severity of his brain injury and necessary treatment to stop the symptoms or continued degeneration.  During the period leading up to the trial, Justin spent in excess of $200,000 to get treatment and care for his brain which was already producing great results in cognitive, behavioral, and physical symptoms prior to his incarceration – Justin truly wanted to better himself and heal his brain regardless of the trial outcome and would continue to do the same if given the opportunity to do so.

CTE is a horrific condition that affects the individual, caretaker, family, and those around them. Many new discoveries have been made since the incident in 2019 and it is sad to ponder whether Justin's unfortunate outcome would have happened in the future when more treatment, understanding, and support is available. 

Thank you for reading his story and on behalf of Justin and his family, we hope you will afford him the grace and prayers he deserves to have an opportunity to reclaim his life and be of service with the time he has left to his family and community once more.