Here’s a good snapshot of NFL concussion data over the years, via the @NFL, culminating in today’s record low. There were no preseason games in 2020, accounting for that lower number. pic.twitter.com/gwpHEtXLED
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) January 30, 2025
The NFL has been in a tough position for a couple of years now with the concussion dilemma. Protecting the players and keeping them out of significant long-term irreparable harm needs to be the first and utmost priority of the league at all times, and that was clear during the 2024 season with the changes made.
The addition of guardian caps and making them mandatory during training camp, the new kickoff rule designed to limit extreme contact, the upgraded helmet quality entering the season due to raised standards, all of these were crucial in limiting the concussion numbers.
In an article recently published by ESPN, the latter of the group had a huge impact, with Dr. Allen Sills (the Chief Medical Officer of the NFL) stating the following, “We’re very pleased with the concussion numbers but not at all suggesting that the work is done. We still have a lot to do to continue to make the game safer and reduce not only concussions, but to reduce avoidable head impact.”
Aside from 2020, the NFL saw its lowest concussion total between preseason and regular season since the league began tracking the data in 2015. The only reason 2020 was lower was due to there not being a preseason at all during that year.
The strides taken by the league this past year have done a strong job to ensure player safety as much as they could when it came to helmets and concussions. The independent consultants that work with NFL teams (formally named unaffiliated neurotrauma consultants) have done good work in the past few seasons to try and ensure players with head trauma do not return to play. In the situations when they fail to meet expectations, the NFL has taken action, such as the case with Tua Tagovailoa and the Miami Dolphins independent consultant.
Hopefully we can continue to see these numbers drop in the future, while also maintaining the integrity of the game we all know and love watching.
