Super Bowl LX is just days away, and Mid-Atlantic Concussion (MAC) Alliance’s medical director and president, Vincent Schaller, MD, DABFM, CIC, has penned a new LinkedIn article on his thoughts about the current state of concussions in the NFL.
This new article is a continuation of Dr. Schaller’s thoughts and commentary from last year’s “Super Bowl LIX Musing of a Concussion Doctor”, and both articles offer his unique perspective as a concussion specialist who is also a life-long football fan.
Pro Football Sees Concussions on the Rise This Season
It probably doesn’t surprise many Americans that the Super Bowl is the most watched television event of the year, nor that football is the most high-risk sport for concussions. There have been many high-profile football concussions in the news this year, across both the NFL and NCAA, which has drawn increased attention to traumatic brain injuries (TBIs), like concussions. We are glad that the public is paying more attention. In his essay, Dr. Schaller covers the startling increase in NFL concussions this year, which came just after a marked decline in 2024. His commentary covers:
- The new changes to the dynamic kickoff format
- The startling increase in preseason concussions
- The increase in severe facemask impacts
- The players who sustained multiple concussions during the season
- The fencing posture seen in televised games, a telltale sign of a severe concussion
- The problem evaluating concussions in the blue tent
