60 Heroes: Unafraid and Outspoken

As an outspoken leader, Don Hasselbeck has been an active member of the NFLPA since the early stages of his nine-year NFL career.  Soon after being selected by the New England Patriots in the 1977 NFL Draft, Hasselbeck was elected as the team’s alternate Player Rep.  By the 1982 player strike, he was the Patriots' Player Rep, serving as a vocal advocate for the Percentage of Gross Revenue plan, which the union advanced later that year. 

As a member of the Executive Committee, Hasselbeck fought to challenge the league on many issues and helped establish several new benefits for future players, including his son Matthew, who was also active with the NFLPA. 

The father of three sons continues to look out for future generations of players.  He is one of several NFL players who have dedicated his brain to the Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy at Boston University in hopes that players who come after him will know more about the effects of repeated head trauma and that football will be a safer game than when he played.