About the Author

Chris Nowinski is best known as a former professional wrestler with WorldWrestling Entertainment. He debuted on WWE's flagship program Monday Night RAW in 2002, when he was named "Newcomer of the Year" by RAW Magazine, and was the youngest male Hardcore Champion in WWE history before his career was interrupted, and likely ended, in 2003 by multiple concussions. He then served as the political correspondent for the WWE's award-winning Smackdown Your Vote! campaign, an effort to encourage Americans ages 18-30 to register and vote.

Chris was a three-year letterman and two-year starter at defensive tackle for the Harvard University football team, where he graduated cum laude with a degree in sociology in 2000. A member of the 1997 Ivy League Championship team, he was named Honorable Mention All-Ivy after his junior season, and 2nd Team All-Ivy as a senior. He played four sports in high school, and captained the football and basketball teams his senior year.

Chris now speaks at medical conferences around the world, sharing presentations such as “The NFL’s Concussion Research: Fact, Fantasy, or Fabrication?” and “The Epidemiology of Concussion in Athletes - Lessons for a New Approach” at 2007 Third International Meeting on Minor Traumatic Brain Injury in Sports, 2007 National Concussion Summit in Marina Bay, CA, and American College of Sports Medicine’s 54th Annual Meeting in New Orleans, LA.

Chris’ work in the field of concussion research and advocacy has made him a sought-after voice for awareness. He has written several articles for media such as SportsIllustrated.com and the New England Hockey Journal, and is a co-author on medical journal articles in review. He is frequently quoted in publications like the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today, Chicago Tribune, ESPN the Magazine, and the Boston Globe. Chris’ journey was featured in the May 2007 episode of HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, and his partnership with Dr. Bennet Omalu was featured in August by ESPN’s Outside the Lines. He is also a frequent guest on CNN, ESPN, CSTV, and National Public Radio.

Chris now serves as President of the Sports Legacy Institute, dedicated to furthering sports-related brain injury research and awareness, and improving the safety of contact and collision sports. Click here to read more about his role with this groundbreaking organization.

Chris is also a consultant with Trinity Partners in Waltham, MA, where he specializes in commercial strategy and licensing and acquisitions in the pharmaceutical and biotech industries. He lives in Boston.