NFL Player Health & Safety Data

Innovations in Player Safety Help Drive NFL Preseason Concussions to Record Low

The National Football League (NFL) announced today injury data for the 2024 preseason, including the fewest concussions in a full preseason. We are proud of the role Guardian Caps played in this success. Key results include:

The fewest number of concussions in practices and games (44) since tracking began in 2015
A nearly 50% reduction in concussions among players wearing the Guardian Cap in mandated sessions vs. the pre-mandate average
Lower-extremity strains remain down by roughly 25%
70% of kickoffs were returned in the preseason, with the injury rate on returns decreasing by 32% to more closely align with the injury rate on run and pass plays
Nearly 99% of players in top-performing helmets

“Concussions continue to decrease in the preseason as a result of changes to practices, technique, rules, and substantial investments in research that have led to the best-performing helmets we have ever seen. There is more work to do, but player safety is advancing, and we hope to see this trend continue this season.”

Jeff Miller, NFL Executive Vice President

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While there is no finish line in our efforts to make the game safer, the injury data from this preseason is an example of how the league’s deliberate approach to player safety continues to deliver results. We’re committed to building a culture of safety around the game, and this preseason was another positive step in that direction.

Allen Sills, NFL Chief Medical Officer

The decrease in preseason concussions to a historic low resulted from the long-term, holistic approach to concussion reduction efforts. The strategy includes rule changes, research into a better understanding of concussion-causing events, education related to proper technique, improved helmet safety, and the expansion of the Guardian Cap mandate. The 44 concussions represent a decrease of 24% from 2023 and fewer than half the number of 91 in 2017.