A report by ESPN’s Kevin Seifert revealed that there were 182 concussion cases among NFL players during the 2024 season. It’s the fewest number of concussions since the league tracked the statistic in 2015. That’s also 17 percent lower than last season’s number.
The previous low was 187 in 2022, and the tally does not include concussions during the COVID season of 2020. Guardian Caps are a major reason for the decline in concussions. While they look odd compared to the typical helmets, they get the job done in reducing head-related injuries in football.
The league mandated the use of Guardian Caps during training camp and regular season practices to reduce the likelihood of concussions. Likewise, the league’s new rules dropped concussions during kickoffs by 43 percent.
Here's a good snapshot of NFL concussion data over the years, via the @NFL, culminating in today's record low. There were no preseason games in 2020, accounting for that lower number. pic.twitter.com/gwpHEtXLED
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) January 30, 2025
Dr. Allen Sills, the league’s chief medical officer, noted that about 35 percent of the league’s players upgraded to Guardian Caps in-game. While they don’t eliminate the possibility of concussions, they get the job done in reducing risks.
-Lance Fernandez