Character Relationship Map: Concussion

Characters

• Mike Webster (played by David Morse) — supporting

  A retired Hall of Fame Pittsburgh Steelers center whose death begins Dr. Bennet Omalu's investigation. Webster is found living in a pickup truck after years of self-mutilation and homelessness, and hi...

• Justin Strzelczyk (played by Matthew Willig) — minor

  A former football player who tells Mike Webster that he is losing his memory, behaving strangely around his children, and nearly attacked his wife. After a psychotic episode, Strzelczyk dies in a high...

• Andre Waters (played by Richard T. Jones) — minor

  A deceased former NFL player whose symptoms are identified as similar to those suffered by Mike Webster and Justin Strzelczyk. His case becomes part of Dr. Bennet Omalu's broader evidence that repeate...

• Waters' Mother (played by L. Scott Caldwell) — minor
• Dave Duerson (played by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje) — supporting

  A former NFL Players Association executive who angrily confronts Dr. Bennet Omalu and tells him to go back to Africa, representing strong resistance to Omalu's conclusions. Years later, Duerson dies b...

• Strzelczyk's Daughter (played by Samara Lee) — cameo

Canonical Relationships

Family, romantic, and professional connections based on plot evidence.

• Strzelczyk's Daughter → Justin Strzelczyk (daughter)
• Waters' Mother → Andre Waters (mother)

Story Dynamics

Alliances, conflicts, and narrative interactions that evolve throughout the story.

• Mike Webster → Dave Duerson (Shared CTE Narrative) — Duerson's decline and final acknowledgment validate the significance of Webster's case.

  Three years after Webster's death, Dave Duerson dies by suicide after worsening cognitive function and acknowledges that the doctor's conclusions were...

• Mike Webster → Andre Waters (Narrative Related Medical Cases) — Waters's case reinforces the broader pattern of brain damage among former football players.

  After examining Webster's condition, the pathologist discovers that Andre Waters exhibited symptoms very similar to Webster's.

• Mike Webster → Justin Strzelczyk (Social Former Teammates) — Their former football connection allows Justin to seek understanding from Webster during his mental decline.

  Justin Strzelczyk, identified as a fellow former football player, confides in Mike Webster about memory loss, disturbing behavior, and violent impulse...

Story Analysis

A forensic investigation exposes the long-term brain damage caused by repeated football trauma and challenges a powerful sports institution.

Plot Progression

1. A Brain in the Truck — Mike Webster's death and Justin Strzelczyk's distress introduce a mystery surrounding former football players' mental collapse. The autopsy begins the search for a medical explanation.
2. The Hidden Diagnosis — Microscopic evidence reveals severe neurotrauma and leads to the identification of chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The findings are prepared for publication despite institutional resistance.
3. The League Pushes Back — The NFL dismisses the published findings and limits their presentation to a player safety committee. Additional deaths strengthen the research while opposition becomes personal.
4. Exile from Pittsburgh — Political prosecution, deportation threats, and personal tragedy make continued work in Pittsburgh increasingly dangerous. The family leaves its home and relocates to California.
5. Vindication and Responsibility — Dave Duerson's death and suicide note validate the research. The doctor addresses players, while congressional scrutiny and lawsuits force the league to confront concussion risks.