A federal judge on Wednesday urged NFL retirees to register for a concussion settlement that could cost the league $US1 billion ($A1.3 billion) over 65 years.
About 22,000 retirees have been encouraged to get baseline neurological testing. The league expects more than 6,000 of them to eventually be diagnosed with dementia or Alzheimer's disease.
The deal approved by Senior US District Judge Anita Brody resolves thousands of lawsuits that accused the NFL of hiding what it knew about the risks of repeated concussions in order to return players to the field.
At a hearing Wednesday in Philadelphia, lawyers reminded participants they must register for the settlement by August 7, which could make then eligible for treatment and damage awards.
The awards could reach several million dollars for younger men with the most severe neurological damage, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, or ALS. The average award is expected to be about $US190,000 ($A249,000) for those suffering from Alzheimer's disease or moderate dementia.
The awards do not cover depression, mood disorders or future cases of chronic encephalopathy, or CTE, which some consider the signature disease of football. However, the US Supreme Court in December declined to hear appeals filed over those exclusions, prompting the rollout of the plan. Players' lawyers hope the first checks will be sent out by early summer.
The NFL this week is moving the first $US65 million ($A85 million) in payments into trust funds that cover injury claims, baseline testing and education. The league must then pay $US120 million ($A157 million) more into the injury fund over the next six months.
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