NFL Medical Summit Looks to Improve Player Safety

Recently, the NFL held a four-day medical conference that is believed to be the first of its kind. More than 400 athletic trainers, equipment managers, strength and conditioning coaches, nutrition experts, and sports science directors “came together to learn from each other and from the league’s research partners.”[1]

Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, said that there is more to health and safety than just doctors and trainers. Every aspect of an organization is used to fully maximize the safety of players. Sills also stated that, “clubs see themselves very holistically and nowadays, as coaches start to plan practice schedules and start to plan training camp, they really engage these different disciplines and they do it through the lens of what might be driving injury.”[2]

Sills continued to emphasize the importance of having all of these different positions together in the same room to collaborate. They look at every piece that each role brings and join them together to collectively increase player safety, which in turn increases player availability and reliability.[3] A major component of the conference was focused on injury prevention. Featured groups present at the conference hat were there to focus on this aspect were the “Professional Football Athletic Trainers Society, the Professional Football Equipment Managers Society, the Professional Football Performance Coaches Association and the Professional Football Registered Dietitian Society.”[4]

At the summit there were multiple workshops, seminars and educational sessions that groups attended. In addition to medical professionals, there was also former players and coaches in attendance. Notably, Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy and former player Andrew Whitworth were in attendance.[5] The league’s executive vice president overseeing player health and safety, Jeff Miller, noted the depth and frequency of information that is communicated between organizations regarding player health and safety; this is why it was important to have former coaches and players to share their ideas and information.

Miller also stated that player injury and safety is the one thing organizations can all agree on. Tyler Williams, executive director of player health and performance for the Minnesota Vikings, discussed how players more and more have subspecialities and very specific talents.[6] Williams, when discussing this topic, stated that himself and others in the NFL in similar roles need to increase their level of interdisciplinary collaboration so they can provide and direct athletes to use certain equipment that will better protect them from injury.

Brendan Burger, the director of equipment for the Los Angeles Rams had this to say, “we’re talking about injury and return to play, equipment’s role in that to get the athlete back on the field and our approach to another team’s approach could be totally different so we are able to take some stuff away from each other to bring back to our own club, which was the point of it all.”[7] Burger also affirmed that “when it comes to an athlete’s health and safety, it isn’t a top-secret thing. We’re here for our athletes, and the more we can help them, the better.”[8]

The NFL has made multiple changes to its rules over the years to better protect its players. For example, the NFL has recently banned the hip drop tackle and in the past has banned the horse-collar tackle, chop blocks, and helmet-to-helmet hits.[9] TJ Hockenson, tight end for the Minnesota Vikings, tore his ACL last year after a nasty hit to his knee. While Hockenson was in the air catching the ball the defender lunged at him with the crown of his helmet directly hitting Hockenson’s knee.[10] While not an illegal hit, Hockenson would like to see this kind of hit banned.[11]

When interviewed recently, Hockenson stated, “when you have a guy 25 yards downfield, looking back at the ball and trying to make a play, and then you have another guy not even staring at the defender and just kind of putting his helmet down at the knee, you see what happens with that.”[12] He also explained that “it doesn’t put the offensive player in a good position and it doesn’t put the defensive player in a good position. [The defender’s] helmet’s straight down, looking at the ground. That’s not a good football tackle. That’s not good football position.”[13]

With player safety at the forefront of the NFL’s mind, Hockenson is hopeful to get this kind of tackle banned. The NFL has demonstrated its commitment to continue to make the game safer with the banning of the hip drop tackle and approval of “eight new position-specific helmets for quarterbacks and linemen designed to help reduce impact that can cause concussions.”[14] It will be crucial for the longevity of the game that the NFL continues to make strides furthering player safety.

[1] NFL’s first medical summit brought teams together to collaborate on improving player safety | AP News

[2] Id.

[3] Id.

[4] Id.

[5] Id.

[6] Id.

[7] Id.

[8] Id.

[9] Id.

[10] T.J. Hockenson is recovering from an ACL repair and hoping the NFL outlaws the low hit that hurt him | AP News

[11] Id.

[12] Id.