Ralph Wenzel (guard) should not be confused with Ralph Wenzel (end).
| Ralph Wenzel | |
| Birth Date: | 14 March 1943 |
| Birth Place: | San Mateo, California, U.S. |
| Death Place: | San Mateo, California, U.S. |
| Position1: | Guard |
| College: | San Diego State University |
| Nfldraftedyear: | 1966 |
| Nfldraftedround: | 11 / Pick 168 (By the Green Bay Packers) |
| Playing Years1: | 1966–1970 |
| Playing Team1: | Pittsburgh Steelers |
| Playing Years2: | 1972–1973 |
| Playing Team2: | San Diego Chargers |
| Databasefootball: | WENZERAL02 |
Ralph Richard Wenzel (March 14, 1943 – June 18, 2012) was a professional American football player who played guard for seven seasons for the Pittsburgh Steelers and San Diego Chargers.[1]
Wenzel's name gained notoriety in late 2009, when Wenzel's wife, Dr. Eleanor Perfetto, testified on Wenzel's dementia.[2] Perfetto testified that Wenzel's football career probably had a causal effect with his dementia.
Wenzel was later confirmed to have chronic traumatic encephalopathy(CTE).[3] He is one of at least 345 NFL players to be diagnosed after death with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), which is caused by repeated hits to the head.[4] [5]