Awareness is Key

The key thing to a solution is bringing awareness and educating people. By being aware of the different injuries that are associated with the positions it educates not only the coaches, but the players. When they are educated more about injuries and recovery, they are able to help prevent injuries by dealing with an injury when it initially happens. If you play on an injury you are making it worse and risking your long term recovery and possibly injuring yourself more. Players and coaches are working on changing their mentality about the sport and injuries related to it. Former NFL players are speaking up to bring awareness to younger athletes to try and prevent lifelong injuries that they might not be able to recover from. It is a choice to play football, and in order to play they feel it is needed to make an educated decision and decided if it is worth putting your well being at risk for the game.

The NFL is taking the first step to start creating awareness and informing the players about potential injuries. The main goal is to try and find ways to prevent the injuries and better protect the players. When the players are better informed they are able to speak up, when injured, and advocate for themselves more to get a full recovery. It is easier for the players to take that step if they have the support from their coach knowing that their health is a priority, not just the game. Whether that is making better gear to wear, or different types of braces to protect joints, the best way to start is with awareness. By taking these precautions this will potentially help make football last longer and the career of the players.

Aftermath From Football According to Formal NFL Players

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The Washington Post interviewed Jerry Kramer, an All-Pro offensive lineman with the Packers from 1958 to 1968 who won two Super Bowls under Coach Vince Lombardi. He is currently putting off a hip replacement, and when asked about his injuries gave this response;

“Injuries? Let me give you a list,” Kramer, 77, said. “Broken bones, leg, the leg below the knee, separated bone and ankle, had to have bolt put in, thumb, arm, broke rib, detached retina, concussion – all from football."

This is an extensive list of injuries that Kramer, a former NFL player has received and is currently suffering from. He states that all of these injuries are from football and it is shocking that he is able to come up with such an extensive list. They are all very serious injuries, some that will leave him with long term effects, and may never reach a full recovery. 

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Pete Kendall was interviewed for the Washington Post discussing his injuries and stated,

“I can’t run anymore,” says former offensive lineman Pete Kendall, 39. “I can’t play basketball with my kids, can’t walk for any extended distance.”

Kendall is only 39 years old, however he has been through countless injuries that it has affected his daily life. He is unable to play with his kids or even run. This is a perfect example of why the former NFL players are reserved about younger children playing football. They see the aftermath of the game and have to live with the injuries. They don’t think it is worth the risk for their children to put themselves in the same position.

Mentality of the Game

“That culture has existed and it needs to change,” said NFL Executive Vice President Jeff Pash. “That is a big part of what Commissioner [Roger] Goodell is trying to do. We’re trying to move toward a player safety culture. It’s going to take time, but I think we’re making progress, seeing them being more honest about their injuries.”

-Jon Cohen, Washington Post

John Cohen from the Washington post touched on a very important issue within the football community about awareness of injuries and the acceptance that athletes need to conclude to. In the Aspen Idea Festival they interviewed former NFL players about their experience in the NFL and injuries. They go on to discuss how there were several times that they would get injured, but not validate the injury. They had the mentality of being a "man" and pushing through an injury. They did not want to give in to the pain and instead of advocating and speaking up about an injury they played through it. Is it really worth the health risk of toughening it out and playing through the pain? I know that is the mentality of a lot of athletes, however that is where there needs to be a major change. As an athlete you need to advocate for yourself and your recovery for an injury that you may be suffering from. If not you may be taking a short term injury and turning it into a long term injury possibly leaving you with the risk of not making a full recovery. There is an upcoming change in the culture that football use to exist in and that starts with being honest with your injury. It is acknowledging what injury you may be suffering from and a solution to recovery.

Plays in Action

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Here are  just a couple pictures of injuries that can happen during a play. In the first picture the player is being tackled and while doing that, is landing on top of his neck/head. This is what can lead to concussions, due to the amount of pressure and force by landing on his head. There is potentially an injury involving his shoulder by landing on top of it as well. You could break the bone, or even dislocate the joint. 

In the second picture you can see one of the linebackers knee turned drastically in. By the impact, and way that he was hit, caused his knee to either dislocate, or potentially breaking his lower leg. If he dislocated his knee is is most likely damaging ligaments and joints within the knee, which will result in surgery to recover. Most players in this position suffer from knee and lower leg joint injuries.  

Recruitment for College Teams

While playing football throughout high school, you always have the idea in the back of your mind if this athletic career will continue into college. When considering this transition between a high school athlete to college you have to really commit yourself, and your body to the possible health risks. Once you commit to playing in college you are putting yourself at risk for long term injuries. Football has be more competitive and dangerous throughout the years and by putting yourself in that competive world you are setting up your life for a physically challenging retirement. Many football players are suffering from long term joint damages, potentially needing surgery to fully recover.

While reading the Washington Post, they interviewed Jerry Kramer, an All-Pro offensive lineman with the Packers from 1958 to 1968 who won two Super Bowls under Coach Vince Lombardi. He is currently putting off a hip replacement, and when asked about his injuries gave this response, “Injuries? Let me give you a list,” Kramer, 77, said. “Broken bones, leg, the leg below the knee, separated bone and ankle, had to have bolt put in, thumb, arm, broke rib, detached retina, concussion – all from football.” 

When you are trying to decide if it is worth the health risk to play football in college, consider the issues the Kramer just described. Do you want to put yourself through all of that pain? The higher up you get while playing football the more seriously injured you could possibly get. You have to ask yourself how much you love the sport, and if the injuries can be overshadowed by the passion you have for the sport. 

Concussions

“Nine in ten former NFL players reported suffering concussions while playing, and nearly six in ten reported three or more. Two in three who had concussions said they experience continuing symptoms from them.”

  -Jon Cohen

Concussions are a major issue within the football community and according to Jon Cohen, you can see how common it is for football players to suffer from them. As a football player you are wearing a helmet to protect your head from any trauma that you will receive from tackles. Is your helmet really doing its job from protecting your head from concussions? A concussion is defined as a change in mental state due to a traumatic impact according to MD Brett Owens. Even though you are wearing a helmet that doesn't necessarily protect your head from such an intense tackle. The worst part about a concussion is that most players don't always take the time needed for a full recovery before getting on the field again. If you initially take care of the injury right after the occurrence then the recovery time for the athlete would be much faster.

Positons and Injuries

In football there are nine different positions to play. Each position different from the next, however, they still all have health risks of their own. The Washington Post stated, “More than nine in ten players reported suffering at least one major injury while in the NFL. More than half reported three or more; one in five reported five or more.” These statistics are growing each year with injuries, that in some situations could be prevented. As you can see in the chart above from the Washington Post it highlights the major areas for injuries, based on the different position played.   

As you can see the major injuries are located around the ligaments and joints. It varies within the different player positions, but mostly they occur in the knees. These injuries may lead to long term effects and in the future may require surgery. 

Quarterback
The quarterback is most likely to get a concussion and shoulder injuries. Due to the intense hits that the quarterback goes through when he has the ball, those are the injuries that most likely will occur, and that they will recover from.

Running Back/Full Back
The running back is most likely to have lower leg, ankle, and foot injuries. While the running back is running with the ball they get tackled, and while being tackled the target area for injuries is the lower half of the body, focussing on the leg and ankle joints.

Defensive/Offensive Line
Due to the stance that the players are positioned they are at high risk for knee injuries. They are putting an immense amount of pressure and stress on their knees, as well as when they block and tackle the opposing team.


I have just described a few positions with a brief description of the injuries associated with the position. You have to think to yourself while you are still young in high school, is it worth putting your body through the trauma and intense hits? At what cost are you willing to pay to play football?