" I do have a son. He’s out of school now. He never played football. And it had nothing to do with me. I was actually crushed that he didn’t play football. I thought, ‘Oh my God, this is awful.’ My brothers all played football. My dad played football. "
- Ann McKee

In the given statement, Ann McKee shares her personal experience about her son's choice not to participate in football despite her strong family history with the sport. She expresses that while her own relatives, including her brothers and father, were involved in football, she had no influence over her son’s decision to opt out of playing.

The deeper meaning behind this quote lies in the contrast between personal expectations and reality. McKee conveys a sense of disappointment when faced with a situation where family traditions are not continued by the younger generation. This feeling highlights the emotional weight that comes from carrying on familial legacies, particularly in sports. Moreover, it raises questions about the role of generational influence versus individual choice. Despite her desire for her son to follow in his relatives' footsteps and play football, she acknowledges that personal preferences and circumstances can lead someone away from a family tradition.

Ann McKee is a renowned neuropathologist who has made significant contributions to understanding chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), particularly its link to repetitive head injuries sustained by athletes involved in contact sports like football. Her work underscores the risks associated with such activities, which adds an interesting layer of complexity to her personal stance on her son's decision not to play football.