Jeff Miller, the NFL’s executive vice president overseeing player health and safety, reported a historic decrease in concussions during the 2024 season of 17% compared to the previous season and the lowest number since 2015, when records began.

“Today is an important milestone, but not the end of our work. Through improved equipment, rule modifications and ongoing culture change, we will make the game safer and more exciting,” said the NFL’s executive vice president.

The 182 concussions suffered in 2024 compared to 219 in the 2023 season represents a 17% decrease. In 2015, the number of these injuries was 275, a year later it dropped to 243, by 2017 it reached its peak with 281. In 2018 there were 214; in 2019, 224; in 2020, the year in which covid-19 was dealt with, there were 172; in 2021, 187; and in 2022, 213.

Miller mentioned that to obtain these positive numbers influenced the rule change of the kickoff, which reduced the speed in collisions between players, advances in special helmet technology for each position that more efficiently absorb impacts and the mandatory use of ‘Guardian Caps’ (padded covers) during training camps, practices and optional use during regular season games.

This decrease adds to a preseason that saw the fewest concussions in practices and games since 2015. “This season’s injury data underscores real progress in our efforts to reduce concussions and lower extremity strains, key areas of focus for the league’s injury reduction strategy,” said Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer.

According to league data, lower extremity strains decreased by 48 percent as a result of the ban on ‘hip-drop tackles’, a form of tackling in which the defender drops his weight by hanging behind the offensive player’s hip.

“We are pleased to see that continued focus on preventing these injuries is paying off and, as always, we will use this injury data to inform and further strengthen our approach to injury prevention and reduction during next offseason,” concluded Allen Sills.