National Football League Quarterback Research Articles

The personal is professional: exploring romantic relationship within the socioecology of an athlete brand

ABSTRACT Research Question Human brands are embedded in a web of social relationships, and examining athlete brand dynamics holistically requires accounting for the different layers of social embeddedness. However, prior research has focused on stakeholder interactions and brand spillover effects, omitting consumers’ views of athlete brands concerning interpersonal relationships in private life. We address this gap by applying a social ecology paradigm and examining how consumers perceive an athlete’s brand with attention to their personal life and romantic relationships. Research Methods We conducted an embedded case study focusing on National Football League quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Brittany Matthews, his then-fiancée (now wife), and thematically analysed 5,115 user comments in response to three Facebook posts featuring the couple by ESPN. Results and Findings Complex and polarised discourses were uncovered, reaffirming or questioning the relationship’s authenticity. Evaluations of the athlete were integrated with issues of gender, status, and race, whereas his romantic partner was positioned as an asset for status signalling, informing the athlete's brand image. Implications The work reveals how evaluations of interpersonal relationships, such as romantic relationships, serve as observable cues informing the meaning of an athlete’s brand. We uncover how the interpretations of the romantic partner and relationship are interlinked with societal structures, celebrity, and sport community norms. Thus, we demonstrate how the social and industry influences on a human brand that are situated within different socioecological systems must be explored in concert rather than in isolation.

New contracts and dismissal threats from highly drafted rookies: What motivates NFL quarterbacks?

The authors examined whether incumbent starting quarterbacks in the National Football League (NFL) performed better after their teams drafted another quarterback in the first round of the preceding draft. There was some evidence that quarterbacks exhibited slightly improved performance under these conditions. However, the impact on performance was small. There was little evidence of opportunistic behavior by quarterbacks, but quarterbacks may perform slightly better in the first year of a new contract. The authors conclude that quarterbacks are already exerting at or near their maximum effort level and thus their performances are unlikely to be greatly impacted by dismissal threats or contract details.

National Football League (NFL) quarterbacks who were multisport high school athletes have better in-season performance statistics and career success

ABSTRACT Objectives To determine (1) the proportion of National Football League (NFL) quarterbacks (QBs) who were multisport high school athletes (2) whether performance metrics in NFL QBs differed by playing multiple high school sports versus the single sport of football. Methods A comprehensive online search identified NFL QBs from 1995 to 2020, classifying them as single or multisport high school athletes. Performance data were collected for regular season and playoffs when applicable and were calculated as rates. Regular season comparisons were limited to players playing at least eight games. Accolades (Pro Bowls, MVP awards, and Super Bowl victories) were also recorded. Mann-Whitney U was utilized to compare performance metrics between multisport and single sport athletes. Results 403 QBs (223, 55.3% multisport) were included. In the regular season, multisport QBs played in more games (median 6.8, IQR 4–10.6 vs median 5, IQR 2.5–8.3; p = 0.0001), and had higher touchdowns/game (median 0.87, IQR 0.5–1.25 vs median 0.67, IQR 0.42–1; p = 0.0063), pass yards/game (median 159.4, IQR 103.9–206.7 vs median 139.4, IQR 96.3–179.6; p = 0.0392), and QB rating (median 78.5, IQR 69.4–85.2 vs median 74.4, IQR 66.7–81.2; p = 0.0063). There were no differences in pass completion %, interceptions/game, or rush yards/game. Multisport QBs played in more playoff games (median 0.5, IQR 0.22–0.81 vs median 0.33, IQR 0.2–0.62; p = 0.027), and had more Pro Bowl appearances, MVP awards, and Super Bowl victories per athlete (p < 0.05). Conclusion Over half of NFL QBs played multiple high school sports. Multisport involvement is associated with benefits in regular season including a higher proportion of games played, and more touchdowns/game, pass yards/game, and QB rating. Playing multiple sports was also associated with playing more playoff games and having more Pro Bowl appearances, MVP awards, and Super Bowl victories. This data supports the benefits of youth multisport training.

Philosophical hermeneutics as an interpretive framework in the analysis of Colin Kaepernick’s NFL protest

One of the more polarizing issues that captivated society in recent years was the controversy surrounding National Football League (NFL) athletes kneeling during the playing of the National Anthem. Initiated by NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick as a display of protest against police brutality, kneeling during the anthem sparked a firestorm of controversy and a national debate. In this study the controversy and the two men behind it will be analyzed through the lens of Hans-Georg Gadamer’s philosophical hermeneutics. Specifically, this study will highlight how Colin Kaepernick and Army veteran Nate Boyer experienced a fusion of horizons that produced the kneeling protest. Additionally, the current study seeks to illuminate both the utility of philosophical hermeneutics as an interpretive framework and the potentialities of dialog between polar opposites who earnestly seek to understand the other.

National Football League Wide Receivers and Running Backs Have Decreased Production Following ACL Reconstruction: An Evaluation of Fantasy Football Performance as an Outcome Measure

PurposeTo use fantasy football points as a simple measure alongside on-field statistics to compare performance in National Football League (NFL) offensive skill position players before and after anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction.MethodsA retrospective review of all NFL quarterbacks (QB), running backs (RB), wide receivers (WR), and tight ends (TE) who sustained an isolated, unilateral ACL injury from 1988 to 2017 was conducted. Data were collected from public data sources, team releases, NFL injury reports, press releases, and other Internet resources. For each player, a matched control with similar demographics was identified. Their in-game performance post-ACL reconstruction was analyzed using fantasy football points as an outcome measure.ResultsA total of 13 QBs, 30 RBs, and 29 WRs who underwent ACL reconstruction from 1988 to 2017 and who met inclusion criteria were retrospectively identified and reviewed. Of the 13 quarterbacks included in the study, there was no statistically significant difference in fantasy football points between the pre- and post-ACL reconstruction groups, as well as post-ACL and matched control groups. There was a statistically significant decrease in career fantasy football performance of running backs post-ACL reconstruction compared with matched control groups (129.6 vs 553.6; P < .0001). There was also a statistically significant decrease in per game fantasy football points post-ACL reconstruction (4.4 vs 11.2; P < .0001). Lastly, WRs also demonstrated a decrease in career fantasy football performance post-ACL reconstruction compared with matched controls (145.3 vs 460.9; P = .002). In addition, they also had a decrease in per game fantasy football performance (5.0 vs 7.7; P = .042).ConclusionsQuarterbacks did not have a statistically significant decrease in performance following ACL reconstruction based on fantasy football performance. Conversely, both running backs and wide receivers had decreased per game and career performance post-ACL reconstruction based on their fantasy football statistics. Furthermore, RBs had the largest decline in production each season over a 3-year period following ACLR compared to QBs and WRs, respectively.Level of EvidenceLevel III, case-control study.

Effects of Age and Travel on National Football League Quarterback Performance: A Correlational Study

Background: Long-distance travel is common for professional athletes; thus, the impact of jet-lag on athletic performance is a relevant topic. Additionally, older individuals take longer to recover from exercise and post-travel fatigue; therefore, it is likely that age and travel affect performance. Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of age and travel on NFL quarterback performance. Method: A correlational research design is used to examine the effects of age and travel on NFL quarterback performance. Data were collected from pro-football-reference.com. Quarterback ratings from the 2018 NFL season are analyzed with age, distance traveled, season week, and weeks since the team’s bye week. The interaction of age and distance is also included to examine the impact of the age-distance relationship on performance. Regression analysis is used to predict quarterback ratings. Results: Season week (p = 0.04), weeks since a bye week (p = 0.041), and distance traveled (p = 0.031) have negative effects on quarterback ratings. The age-performance relationship in NFL quarterbacks is non-linear (p = 0.018), with quarterback performance decreasing during an athlete’s 20s and then increasing during an athlete’s 30s. Additionally, ratings of younger quarterbacks decrease with farther distances traveled, while the ratings of older quarterbacks increase with farther distances traveled (p = 0.072). Conclusions: Differences in performance by age with travel may be the result of different severities of jet-lag symptoms experienced by younger and older quarterbacks, as well differences in strategies for managing post-travel fatigue by athletes of different ages.

Effect of Concussions on National Football League Quarterback Performance

Background: Sports-related concussion (SRC) rates are higher in American football than any other sport; therefore, the effects of SRCs on professional football players is a prevalent topic. Previous research has shown that sustaining an SRC has negative financial and overall career outcomes for athletes and may cause performance decrements after an athlete returns to play, however, the results of previous research regarding athlete performance after returning from an SRC are mixed. While some studies found that player performance in the National Football League (NFL) was unaffected upon returning from an SRC, evidence also suggests significant scoring reductions in offensive players. Although previous research has found that NFL running backs and wide receivers perform at levels similar to their performance before sustaining an SRC, little is known about quarterback performance after an SRC. There is also evidence that SRCs decrease neurocognitive performance, a quality that is crucial, especially for quarterbacks. Objective: The purpose of this study is to examine changes in NFL quarterback performances upon return to play from an SRC. Method: Quarterback ratings (QBRs) and concussion data from 2012-2015 were used to determine if changes occurred in NFL quarterback performance following an SRC. Results: QBRs decreased by 13.3 points (p = 0.014) after quarterbacks return from an SRC. Conclusions: Changes in on-field performance for NFL quarterbacks after sustaining an SRC could be the result of neurocognitive decrements that impact quick reaction and decision-making skills, which may have greater impacts on quarterbacks than other positions.

Public Online Interest in Injuries Sustained by National Football League Quarterbacks

PurposeTo use Google search data to determine the public’s interest in learning about athletic injuries sustained by NFL quarterbacks and to investigate how long this interest persists after the injuries.MethodsWe identified starting NFL quarterbacks during the 2019–2020 season online and used the official NFL injury report to determine whether an injury had occurred to a quarterback. We used the Google Trends tool to analyze search trends around a quarterback’s injuries from July 22, 2019, to October 22, 2019. Google trends data was extracted as relative search volume over time. We then compared the results to the expected search forecast derived from an autoregressive integrated moving algorithm (ARIMA) model.ResultsAll 6 injured quarterbacks were associated with increases (64% to 100%) in relative search volumes for terms related to their injury. Furthermore, the data showed a consistent increase in search engine activity around the injuries associated with NFL quarterbacks in the first 3 days, marking a particularly influential time frame for public engagement.ConclusionOur data show an increase in Google traffic surrounding the injuries of prominent NFL quarterbacks within the first 3 days following their injuries.Clinical RelevanceSocial media can provide a platform for patient education through increasing patient awareness and knowledge regarding athletic injuries.

Drowning Out the Message: How Online Comments on News Stories About Nike’s Ad Campaign Contributed to Polarization and Gatekeeping

This study examined audience commentary on Fox News, Cable News Network, and MSNBC’s YouTube and Facebook platforms associated with news stories on Nike’s selection of controversial former National Football League quarterback Colin Kaepernick as the spokesman for its 2018 campaign. The study, using the theory of gatekeeping as a starting point, sought evidence for a drowning effect, in which the audience strayed from the primary message of the journalism presented to it. Content analysis revealed a significant drowning effect across platforms and outlets.

Evidence on the importance of cognitive ability tests for NFL quarterbacks: what are the relationships among Wonderlic scores, draft positions and NFL performance outcomes?

ABSTRACTEmploying data on National Football League (NFL) quarterbacks drafted between 2002 and 2012, the authors consider whether factors correlated with a quarterback being more productive in the NFL are the same factors that correlate with an improved draft position. In particular, the authors consider the relevance of scores on the Wonderlic test. Contrary to all prior literature on the subject, the authors find that performance on the Wonderlic test is positively correlated with NFL performance. However, the authors find no clear evidence that Wonderlic scores are correlated with draft position. Beyond this primary finding, the authors reveal many other interesting results that should help researchers better understand a quarterback’s progression from college to the NFL.

Dodging DeflateGate: A Case Study of Equivocation and Strategic Ambiguity in a Crisis

This case study examined the effects of equivocation in sport communication. U.S. National Football League quarterback Tom Brady held a press conference in January 2015 during a scandal. The author experimentally manipulated versions of the press conference, one with equivocal parts included (e.g., “I don’t know, I have no idea”), and one with those parts removed. Outcome measures included source credibility and perceptions of dodging questions. When Brady equivocated, participants perceived him to have more goodwill. Furthermore, his equivocal answers were not perceived as dodging the questions. This case study helps extend predictions of strategic ambiguity and equivocation theory into the field of sport communication.

Elite quarterbacks do not laugh when they are losing: Exploring fan responses to athletes' emotional displays

Athletes experience a multitude of emotions during sport competition. How they manage and regulate emotions is, to some degree, influenced by social expectations. This research explored how fans framed emotional expressions by National Football League quarterback Derek Anderson during and after a Monday Night Football game. A thematic analysis of 304 postings in an ESPN.com discussion forum was conducted. Results revealed that fans viewed Anderson's emotional expressions as: (a) appropriate behaviour; (b) lack of professionalism; and (c) a character flaw. The results suggest that fans hold inconsistent expectations about athletes’ emotional displays and that these shifting preferences place athletes in complex positions as they attempt to manage and regulate their emotions before, during, and after sporting events.

Performance and return-to-sport after ACL reconstruction in NFL quarterbacks.

Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture is a significant injury in National Football League (NFL) quarterbacks. The purpose of this study was to determine (1) return-to-sport (RTS) rate in NFL quarterbacks following ACL reconstruction, (2) performance upon RTS, and (3) the difference in RTS and performance between players who underwent ACL reconstruction and controls. Thirteen quarterbacks (14 knees) who met inclusion criteria underwent ACL reconstruction while in the NFL. Matched controls were selected from the NFL during the same time span to compare and analyze age, body mass index (BMI), position, performance, and NFL experience. Student t tests were performed for analysis of within- and between-group variables. Bonferroni correction was used in the setting of multiple comparisons. Twelve quarterbacks (13 knees; 92%) were able to RTS in the NFL. Mean player age was 27.2±2.39 years. Mean career length in the NFL following ACL reconstruction was 4.85±2.7 years. Only 1 player needed revision ACL reconstruction. In both cases and controls, player performance was not significantly different from preinjury performance after ACL reconstruction (or index year in controls). There was also no significant performance difference between case and control quarterbacks following ACL reconstruction (or index year in controls). There is a high rate of RTS in the NFL following ACL reconstruction. In-game performance following ACL reconstruction was not significantly different from preinjury or from controls.

A Hero or Sissy? Exploring Media Framing of NFL Quarterbacks Injury Decisions

There has been growing attention on health and safety issues in sport, most notably football. Consequently, it is important that communication scholars attend to this topic. This research explored print media framing in response to two injury situations involving National Football League quarterbacks—Jay Cutler and Robert Griffin III. An analysis of 177 newspaper articles revealed 11 frames that were used to discuss these injuries. The most prominent frame for Cutler was support while shifting the blame was most prominent for Griffin. The results suggest that sports journalists framing of injuries could potentially be a catalyst to shift football cultural norms towards valuing players who put their health first. The results also reveal that organizations may shoulder most of the blame for players’ injuries, which suggests a short-term setback may be more beneficial in the long-term interest of the organization.

Revisiting Image-Restoration Strategies: An Integrated Case Study of Three Athlete Sex Scandals in Sports News

A limited number of studies have examined the effectiveness of apology techniques in image restoration of athletes involved in sex scandals. This case study used Benoit’s (1995) image-restoration strategies to examine the apology techniques 3 athletes used to negotiate their sex scandals and attempted to encourage further discussion of these techniques. Three athletes’ sex scandals were comparatively analyzed, including those of golfer Tiger Woods, National Football League quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, and the National Basketball Association’s Kobe Bryant. This case study integrated the apology statements made by each athlete and examined sports-news coverage of the scandals from The New York Times, USA Today, and The Washington Post. This case study offers important insights on how these athletes restored their images and handled the crises surrounded their sex scandals.

What does it mean to find the face of the franchise? Physical attractiveness and the evaluation of athletic performance

We show that attractiveness, as measured by facial symmetry, leads to greater rewards in professional sports. National Football League quarterbacks who are more attractive are paid greater salaries and this premium persists after controlling for player performance.

Statistical Performance in National Football League Athletes After Lumbar Discectomy

It is currently unknown how a lumbar disk herniation (LDH) impacts a professional athlete's performance and/or career. No studies have evaluated the effects of LDH on National Football League (NFL) skill position players. Our objective was to determine if NFL athletes who sustain an LDH and subsequently undergo discectomy can return to competitive play with no significant effects on performance. Retrospective cohort study. National Football League. During a 22-year period (1986-2008), offensive skill position players in the NFL (quarterbacks, running backs, wide receivers, and tight ends) who sustained an LDH and subsequently underwent a lumbar discectomy were included in this study. Lumbar discectomy. Performance-based outcomes were analyzed, and data were recorded for games played, yards gained, and touchdowns scored. : Data were analyzed for 23 NFL offensive skill position players who had an LDH and underwent discectomy. Seventy-four percent of players returned to competitive play in the NFL. The average length of career after treatment was 36 games over a 4.1-year period. There was no significant difference in performance when comparing pre-injury and post-injury statistics. Although an LDH has career-threatening implications for NFL athletes, 74% of players who underwent lumbar discectomy returned to competitive play in the NFL. There was no significant change in performance when comparing pre-injury and post-injury statistics.

Roughing the Passer: The Framing of Black and White Quarterbacks Prior to the NFL Draft

This study used social learning theory and a framing perspective to examine the ways in which Black and White college quarterbacks were described by a major sports publication prior to the National Football League draft. An examination of 4,745 attributions used to describe Black and White National Football League quarterback prospects over a 10-year period revealed data patterns that emphasized racial stereotypes. Black quarterbacks were primarily described with words and phrases that emphasized their physical gifts and their lack of mental prowess. Conversely, White quarterbacks were described as less physically gifted, but more mentally prepared for the game and less likely to make mental errors. Implications for journalism, sports and scholars are discussed.

The face reveals athletic flair: Better National Football League quarterbacks are better looking

We investigated whether individual differences in athleticism, and in turn heritable fitness, may be signaled by differences in facial attractiveness within a highly select group of athletes: National Football League (NFL) quarterbacks (QBs). Athleticism was operationalized as the passer rating, the NFL’s official measure of performance among QBs. Results from a preliminary study showed a positive correlation between 30 NFL QBs’ passer ratings and their facial attractiveness as rated by 30 women. In a further study, a different group of 30 women rated a different cohort of 58 NFL QBs. The results showed that the QBs’ mean attractiveness ratings were positively correlated with their passer ratings, which was found to be independent of players’ age, ethnicity, height, weight, or facial expression. These findings build upon previous research and provide further support for the hypothesis that individual differences in athleticism, a heritable trait desirable in mate selection, may be signaled reliably through facial attractiveness.

Catching a draft: on the process of selecting quarterbacks in the National Football League amateur draft

The reverse order college draft gives the worst teams in the National Football League (NFL) the opportunity to hire the best amateur talent. For it to work effectively, teams must be able to identify the “best” talent. Our study of NFL quarterbacks highlights problems with the draft process. We find only a weak correlation between teams’ evaluations on draft day and subsequent quarterback performance in the NFL. Moreover, many of the factors that enhance a quarterback’s draft position are unrelated to future NFL performance. Our analysis highlights the difficulties in evaluating workers in the uncertain environment of professional sports.