"the findings also weren’t impacted by the number of concussions the former players reported, he said, meaning the dangers posed by football can’t be boiled down simply to big hits."

Or more likely, the "findings" weren't related to the actual game play at all but instead related to the sort of people who play football at a young age.

I will take more time to look at the actual study (rather than just the Washington Post's synopsis). Is there a control group? Is it adjusted for income and other factors? I have read quite a number of the studies that the BU CTE Center uses. They are oftentimes not actual studies and more self-reported questionaires and/or self-selecting for people who have experienced CTE (it does exist) or have some other neurological condition and/or mental illness.