The NFL’s Safety Revolution: A History of Injury Prevention and Concussion Protocols

Abstract

The long-term consequences of concussions and other injuries have raised

concerns about player safety in the National Football League (NFL). An analysis

of developments in protective gear, injury protocols, and concussion management

examines measures from 1920 to the present. High injury rates were caused in the

early years (1920-1950) by a lack of protective gear and minor medical care.

Concussions continued to be a significant worry between 1950 and 2000, despite

certain dangers being reduced by advancements in helmet design, medical

technology, and regulatory changes. Since 2000, the league’s attitude toward

player protection has changed due to increased awareness, more stringent

concussion protocols, and advanced safety technology. Even with these

developments, there are still obstacles in the way of ultimately reducing the risks

associated with brain injuries. The significance of ongoing research and

innovation in protecting NFL players’ careers and health is highlighted by this

study.

For many years, the National Football League (NFL) has been praised for

its fierce physicality and spirit of competition. (Blake, 2024) But historically,

players’ health has suffered dramatically as a result of this intensity, especially

when it comes to concussions and related illnesses. The NFL has put in place

several safety precautions to protect its players over the years as a result of

growing awareness of the long-term health effects linked to repetitive head

trauma. This essay explores how these safety procedures have changed, how

protective gear has improved, how injury protocols have been established, and

4how concussion management techniques have evolved from the league’s founding

to the present. Player safety precautions were crude in the early years

(1920-1950), with no protective equipment or established medical procedures.

The number of injuries increased along with the sport’s popularity, underscoring

the pressing need for higher safety regulations. Significant developments took

place between 1950 and 2000, such as adopting helmet designs and using

fundamental concussion techniques. The frequency of brain injuries persisted as a

major worry despite these efforts. (Maaddi, 2024) The NFL has implemented

more advanced strategies in recent years (from 2000 to the present)

Year Manuscript Completed

Spring 2025

Senior Project Advisor

G.Michael Barton

Degree Awarded

Bachelor of Integrated Studies Degree

Field of Study

Commerce & Leadership

Document Type

Thesis

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