The horrifying on-field mishandling of a Houston quarterback’s head injury highlighted the limitations of the NFL’s concussion protocol. What can be done?
In a sport of hard hits, the NFL has taken more than its share this season. Off the field issues have drawn more attention than the play on the field – particularly the debate over kneeling and the national anthem—and football’s ever-present nemesis, concussions, remains one of the NFL’s biggest problems.
Publicly condemned and legally liable for ignoring the long-term effects of brain injury, the NFL seems to have learned from its mistakes and has swiftly tried to respond, primarily through the implementation of a concussion protocol. The protocol, developed in 2009 and amended periodically over the past eight seasons, dictates the procedure for both the diagnosis and management of concussions.
Related: The Tom Savage fiasco shows the NFL's concussion protocol is not working
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