Abstract
Concussions in the National Football League (NFL) are a rising topic of concern and debate. With the implementation of new protocols, NFL players are required to be removed from play and must follow specific processes before full return to play after sustaining a concussion. While concussion severity is the primary determinant of time-off, it is possible that other factors associated with player value influence time-off as well. The purpose of this study is to examine determinants of NFL games missed after a concussion. NFL concussion data from 2012 to 2015 were used in conjunction with player salary, position, previous concussions, average plays per game, and season during which the concussion occurred. Results indicate that quarterbacks and players who sustained multiple concussions missed more games, while players involved in more plays per game miss less games, providing evidence that player health and value are determinants of time-off after a concussion. Additionally, the number of games missed has increased each year, which could be the result of NFL efforts to increase safety and increased media attention.
Highlights
Concussions in the National Football League (NFL) are common injuries and a widespread concern
With increased attention on concussions in the media, and as more protocols are put in place, time-off after concussions has increased in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Hockey League (NHL) in recent years (Wennberg and Tator, 2008; Padaki et al, 2016)
Player salary did not significantly impact games missed after a concussion, other indicators of player value, such as player position and the average number of plays a player was involved per game, significantly affected time-off after a concussion (Table 2)
Summary
Concussions in the National Football League (NFL) are common injuries and a widespread concern. In the NFL, there are ∼140 concussions reported each season, and it is estimated that at least one player on a team suffers a concussion every five games (Casson et al, 2010). The NFL’s Return-to-Participation Protocol requires players to rest after sustaining a concussion (NFL Head, Neck, and Spine Committee, 2018b), often causing them to miss games as they recover. With increased attention on concussions in the media, and as more protocols are put in place, time-off after concussions has increased in the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Hockey League (NHL) in recent years (Wennberg and Tator, 2008; Padaki et al, 2016). Time-off from a concussion varies individually and can last longer than 3 weeks in some cases (Casson et al, 2011a)
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