In the 2024 season, NFL players experienced the lowest number of concussions since the league began keeping track of such data nearly a decade ago.
The overall reduction from the previous year, 2023, stands at 17%, considering all practices and games throughout both the preseason and regular season.
Jeff Miller, an executive with the league, along with Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, attributed this significant drop to several factors.
These included advancements in safety equipment, stricter enforcement of safety regulations, and a comprehensive effort to promote a culture prioritizing concussion safety.

“This year marks a significant milestone, witnessing the fewest recorded concussions,” stated Miller in a recent announcement.
He emphasized, however, that there is still much work to be done to further enhance player safety.
The decrease in concussion numbers follows a trend of record low incidents observed during the preseason, which also recorded minimal concussions during practices and games.

Dr. Sills stressed that the decline does not indicate a reduction in the diligence surrounding concussion protocols, noting the ongoing commitment to aggressive evaluation processes and self-reporting practices.
He revealed that about 28% of players examined for concussions ultimately receive a diagnosis, while the rate of players reporting concussions on their own has risen to 41%.

Additionally, there was a 35% increase in players transitioning to enhanced helmets or helmets tailored for specific positions, designed to mitigate the force of impacts during play.
“We have made our goal very clear regarding the removal of head contact from the game, particularly when it is avoidable,” Sills explained.
He mentioned that ongoing discussions in the competition committee would focus on strategies to eliminate risky techniques from gameplay.

As for the new kickoff rules, the number of concussions (eight) remained consistent with the previous season; however, the injury rate improved as there was a notable rise in the number of returns.
Overall, these developments reflect a determined effort from the NFL to enhance player safety while continuing to adapt its regulations and equipment innovations.