Several former players have raised awareness about concussions in the NFL. One former player that illustrated this perfectly was Rashard Mendenhall, former Pittsburg Steelers running back. Given his early retirement at age 26, NFL fans may have a window into the future.
Mendenhall cited that he accomplished remarkable feats such as being part of a team that won two super Bowls. He enjoyed his time in the NFL. He wants to do other things like traveling and writing. He wants to enjoy the rest of his life.
Junior Seau
However, others have made that window very clear to everyone. Junior Seau, one of the greatest defensive players of all time, committed suicide and donated his brain for study. He wanted every NFL fan, coach, reporter to understand the effects of brain injuries and how they impact the lives of those who take the risk of such injuries.
Will the NFL end?
Rather than subscribe to the wild, speculative “theory” that the NFL will eventually fold, it is more realistic to accept that players will be retiring earlier such as after 7 years. Eventually the long tenures of most players of 10-12 seasons could become few and far between. The NFL is arguably the most popular brand of all sports (some will contest soccer in European nations is slightly more popular) and is a billion dollar industry. It seems highly unlikely that the NFL will ever be dissolved.
Players may eventually lose the will to play 10 or more seasons with the threat of frequent headaches for the remainder of their lives and increasing incidents of suicide.
Rule Change- Protect the players
Due to the increased awareness of concussions and their long term impact, the NFL decided the any player that suffers a concussion must be substituted for the remainder of the game. This rule was initiated in 2009.
What is a concussion and what are the symptoms?
According to Web MD, concussions are the least serious injury. However, they can still have a serious impact on the health of an individual. A concussion can lead to memory loss, blurred vision, slurred speech, headaches, ringing in ears, and multiple other symptoms.
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