The group wants to open a dialogue on brain injuries in professional football, discuss the latest research and begin developing recommendations to keep players safer.
The committee was named in honor of two Hall of Famers -- tight end John Mackey, who has been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease, and defensive lineman Reggie White, who earned the nickname "The Minister of Defense" and died at 43 after retiring from the NFL.
"It's something very close to my heart," Youngblood said. "I became much more aware of it as I was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and got to know John Mackey more than just a guy at a cocktail party, and to see how ravaging brain injury and brain trauma can be."
Congress recently questioned NFL players and doctors about football head injuries. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell testified in October about his league's concussion policies.
Since then, the league has instituted stricter return-to-play guidelines for players showing concussion symptoms; required each team to enlist an independent neurologist as an adviser; entered into a partnership with Boston University brain researchers who have been critical of the league's stance on concussions; and conducted tests on helmets.
"You can never take the collision aspect out of the game," Youngblood said. "There's just no way, and in fact, that's something we kind of enjoy."
Dr. Thom Mayer, medical director of the NFL players' union, is serving as the committee co-chair along with Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Sean Morey.
"This committee will serve as a 'superconductor' of information in order to drive rapid and meaningful progress in concussions," he said. "We have assembled a world-class group of scientists to facilitate our work, which will benefit not only NFL players, but all those involved in all contact sports."
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