Fourth Circuit Affirms Lower Court Ruling, Finding NFL’s Post-Retirement Disability Apparatus Failed Ex-Player

A panel of judges with the 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the ruling of a district judge that the Bert Bell/Pete Rozelle NFL Retirement Plan and the NFL Player Supplemental Disability Plan (The Plan) abused its discretion when it denied disability benefits to a former NFL player, who is currently suffering from the after-effects of multiple concussions and other injuries.   In so ruling, the panel noted that the defendants “failed to follow a reasoned process or explain th