Football is one of the most dangerous sports in the world with 3,025 injuries spanning across the NFL from 2016-2021. Further cementing its place as a dangerous sport, it has now been discovered that 90% of former players in a particular study were diagnosed with Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) — the deterioration of the nerves in brain cells.
Some of the worst NFL casualties include Chuck Hughes, a 28-year-old wide receiver for the Detroit Lions, who collapsed in the last quarter against the Chicago Bears and died an hour after being taken to the hospital in 1971.
Darryl Stingley, 26-year-old wide receiver for the New England Patriots, became paralyzed after clashing head-on and breaking his fourth and fifth cervical vertebrae in a game against the Oakland Raiders.
Ronnie Lott, a 27-year-old safety for the San Francisco 49ers, amputated his finger in 1986 after breaking it in an attempt to not miss his season over a long recovery time.
Leon Washington, 27-year-old running back for the New York Jets, broke his right leg in the first quarter against the Oakland Raiders in 2009.
Most recently, Christian McCaffrey, a 28-year-old running back for the San Francisco 49ers, became afflicted with Achilles tendonitis due to over-training.
Although the 2024 season has just begun, with the recent news of Rashee Rice, Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver, another player who will need significant recovery after an injury sustained from his own teammate, the NFL seems to be as hazardous as ever with slews of prominent injuries rocking the league.
So far, there have been six notable injuries in the first week — Jordan Love’s knee injury, Kenneth Walker’s abdominal injury, Puka Nacua’s right knee injury, Jordan Addision’s left high ankle sprain, Keenan Allen’s heel injury and Jake Ferguson’s bone bruise and MCL sprain — seven in second week — Isiah Pacheco’s right fibula injury, Joe Mixon’s ankle injury, McCaffrey’s calf injury and Achilles tendonitis, Justin Jefferson’s bruised thigh, Cooper Kupp’s third ankle injury, Taysom Hill’s fractured ribs, Evan Engram’s hamstring injury — four in the third week —, Skylar Thompson’s rib injury, DeVonta Smith’s concussion, Adam Thielen’s hamstring injury, Sam LaPorta’s ankle sprain — and nine in the fourth week — Ja’Marr Chase’s shoulder injury, AJ Brown’s hamstring injury, Justin Herbert’s high ankle sprain, Tank Dell’s chest injury, Adam Thielen’s hamstring injury, Jayden Reed’s calf injury, Trey McBride’s rib injury, Luke Musgrave’s ankle injury and David Njoku’s high ankle sprain.
For over a century, football has been enjoyed by millions of people around the world at the expense of the players, normalizing and sensationalizing brutality. In response to the rise in injury rates, the NFL has begun implementing precautionary measures, including changing kickoff rules to ensure safer plays, bettering equipment and padding and guaranteeing that players receive proper training and medical attention.
Yet, despite the NFL’s attempts to protect the safety of their players, more needs to be done, starting with the fans. It is time for viewers to recognize that players are humans too and take accountability for their inaction and complicity in endangering them. Beyond the viewer, the NFL also must take greater measures to protect its players. Mainly, it needs to be more transparent with its responsiveness and handling of player safety issues, for without transparency, there can never truly be an effective mechanism for accountability.
