Contact us 1.800.698.2536
Search by Speaker Name or Topic
Chris Nowinski

Chris Nowinski

Former Harvard Football Player & WWE Wrestler; Co-Founder and President of Concussion Legacy Foundation

Travels From Travels From:
Boston, MA, USA
Speaking Fee Speaking Fee:
Live Event: $10,000 - $20,000
Virtual Event: Please Contact
More Fee Info
Categories Categories:
Categories Categories:
Athlete, Entrepreneurship, Executive Leadership, Health, Leadership, Medicine, Research & Exploration, Science, Sports
REQUEST BOOKING INFORMATION

Chris Nowinski Biography

Chris Nowinski, PhD, is co-founder and CEO of the Concussion Legacy Foundation, a non-profit organization leading the fight against concussions and CTE and dedicated to improving the lives of those impacted.

An All-Ivy Harvard football player-turned WWE professional wrestler-turned neuroscientist, Chris discovered the concussion crisis the hard way. A 2003 kick to the chin in a WWE match ended his career, causing Post-Concussion Syndrome and sending him to the office of his eventual CLF co-founder Dr. Robert Cantu. Through Dr. Cantu, Chris was first exposed to medical research that revealed to him that concussions and brain trauma were misunderstood in the sports world.

Chris realized this lack of awareness among athletes, coaches, and even medical professionals not only cost him his career, but also threatened the health and well-being of athletes of all ages. The lessons Chris learned from Dr. Cantu lit a spark that inspired him to commit his life to serving patients and families affected by brain trauma. You can watch his TED Talk about this journey here.

Chris wrote the investigative book Head Games: Football’s Concussion Crisis in 2006, co-founded CLF in 2007, co-founded the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank in 2008, and served as a co-director of the Boston University Center for the Study of Traumatic Encephalopathy in from 2008 to 2014. Today he serves as an Outreach, Recruitment, Education, and Public Policy Leader for the BU CTE Center. Chris’ journey has been profiled in media outlets like HBO Real Sports, ESPN Outside the Lines, and the New York Times, and he was the subject of the award-winning documentary Head Games: The Global Concussion Crisis by celebrated director Steve James.

Dr. Nowinski earned his doctorate in Behavioral Neuroscience from Boston University School of Medicine and has authored more than 30 scientific publications. VICE Sports called him “the man most responsible for making CTE part of the national conversation,” and Sports Illustrated said, “It is Nowinski's figure which looms behind the doctors and the headlines and the debate roiling over sports' newfound commitment to minimizing head trauma.”

Nowinski serves on the NFL Players Association Mackey-White Health & Safety Committee, the Ivy League Concussion Committee, the Positive Coaching Alliance National Advisory Board, and as an advisor to All-Elite Wrestling.

Chris has received multiple awards for his advocacy. In 2019, the United States Sports Academy presented him with the Ernst Jokl Sports Medicine Award for his contributions to the growth and development of sport medicine through practice and/or scholarly activity. Chris has been the recipient of the Dr. Alan Ashare Safety Award from Massachusetts Hockey, the Impact Award from HealthSpottr, the Zach Lydstedt Angel Award from the Sarah Jane Brain Foundation, the Distinguished Service Award from the United States Sports Academy, the Sport at its Best Award-Player Safety Advocate from Ralph Nader’s League of Fans, the CoBI Award from the Council on Brain Injury, the Patrick Brady Award from the Brain Injury Association of Illinois, a Compassionate Action Award from PETA, and the Presidential Medallion from Western New England College, the school’s highest honor.

Athletic Business named Chris an Industry Difference-Maker, Boston Business Journal named him to their 40 under 40 list, HealthLeaders Media named him to the HealthLeaders 20, and Hockey News named him to the 40 Under 40 most powerful people in hockey. In 2010, Sports Illustrated named Chris a finalist for Sportsman of the Year. Chris is an Eisenhower Fellow, a program which identifies, empowers and connects innovative leaders to pursue projects that create positive impact across sectors and borders to make the world more peaceful, prosperous and just.

Chris is a frequent speaker on various aspects of brain trauma, and since 2004 he has spoken more than 400 times at universities, conferences, high schools, and sports organizations around the world.

Contact a speaker booking agent to check availability on Chris Nowinski and other top speakers and celebrities.

BOOK Chris Nowinski

Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 12/16/2024.

Chris Nowinski Videos

  • Why we need to change the age limit for contact sports | TEDx
    Why we need to change the age limit for contact sports | TEDx
    NOTE FROM TED: Research around CTE diagnosis remains an ongoing field of study. TEDx events are independently organized by volunteers. The guidelines...
  • Can I have your brain? The quest for truth on concussions and CTE
    Can I have your brain? The quest for truth on concussions and CTE
    Something strange and deadly is happening inside the brains of top athletes -- a degenerative condition, possibly linked to concussions, that causes...
See All Videos »

Chris Nowinski Books

  • Head Games
    Head Games

FAQs on booking Chris Nowinski

  • How do I book Chris Nowinski to speak at my event?

    Our experienced booking agents have successfully helped clients around the world secure speakers like Chris Nowinski for speaking engagements, personal appearances, product endorsements, or corporate entertainment since 2002. Click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page to check availability for Chris Nowinski, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to discuss your upcoming event. One of our experienced agents will be happy to help you get speaking fee information and check availability for Chris Nowinski or any other speaker of your choice.

  • What are the speaker fees for Chris Nowinski

    Speaking fees for Chris Nowinski, or any other speakers and celebrities, are determined based on a number of factors and may change without notice. The estimated fees to book Chris Nowinski are for live events and for virtual events. For the most current speaking fee to hire Chris Nowinski, click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536 to speak directly with an experienced booking agent.

  • What topics does Chris Nowinski speak about?

    Chris Nowinski is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Athlete, Entrepreneurship, Executive Leadership, Health, Leadership, Medicine, Research & Exploration, Science, Sports.

  • Where does Chris Nowinski travel from?

    Chris Nowinski generally travels from Boston, MA, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

  • Who is Chris Nowinski’s agent?

    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Chris Nowinski for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Chris Nowinski for your next private or corporate function.

  • What is a full-service speaker booking agency?

    AAE Speakers Bureau is a full-service speaker booking agency, meaning we can completely manage the speaker’s or celebrity’s engagement with your organization from the time of booking your speaker through the event’s completion. We provide all of the services you need to host Chris Nowinski or any other speaker of your choice, including offer negotiation, contractual assistance, accounting and billing, and event speaker travel and logistics services. When you book a speaker with us, we manage the process of hosting a speaker for you as an extension of your team. Our goal is to give our clients peace of mind and a best-in-class service experience when booking a speaker with us.

  • Why is AAE Speakers Bureau different from other booking agencies?

    If you’re looking for the best, unbiased speaker recommendations, paired with a top-notch customer service experience, you’re in the right place. At AAE Speakers Bureau, we exclusively represent the interests of our clients - professional organizations, companies, universities, and associations. We intentionally do not represent the speakers we feature or book. That is so we can present our clients with the broadest and best performing set of speaker options in the market today, and we can make these recommendations without any obligation to promote a specific speaker over another. This is why when our agents suggest a speaker for your event, you can be assured that they are of the highest quality with a history of proven success with our other clients.

Chris Nowinski is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Chris Nowinski for your event is $10,000 - $20,000. Chris Nowinski generally travels from Boston, MA, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Michael West, Giovanni Colella, Toby Cosgrove, Mark Cuban and Keller Rinaudo. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Chris Nowinski for an upcoming live or virtual event.

BOOK Chris Nowinski

Tell us about your event!

During normal business hours, we respond to most inquiries within 4 hours.

  • Customized Service

    Our agents find the right fit for your event

  • Unparalleled Database

    Full access to all speakers & celebrities

  • One Stop Shopping

    A reliable and unbiased point of contact

  • Logistics Management

    Your personal Logistics Manager who takes care of all event details

Need Quick Answers?

We are happy to help! Call us to speak with a booking agent about your event or specific speaker request.

Sarah Miller
phone   1.800.698.2536
Our celebrity booking agents can:

  • Gauge interest and check availability for speaking engagements, appearances or corporate events

  • Provide you with the speaking fee to book Chris Nowinski or other celebrity appearance fees

  • Give you personal recommendations for the best keynote speakers or celebrities

  • Assist you with any questions you have throughout the talent booking process

This website is a resource for event professionals and strives to provide the most comprehensive catalog of thought leaders and industry experts to consider for speaking engagements. A listing or profile on this website does not imply an agency affiliation or endorsement by the talent.

All American Entertainment (AAE) exclusively represents the interests of talent buyers, and does not claim to be the agency or management for any speaker or artist on this site. AAE is a talent booking agency for paid events only. We do not handle requests for donation of time or media requests for interviews, and cannot provide celebrity contact information.

If you are the talent and wish to request a profile update or removal from our online directory, please submit a profile request form.

TOP