The NFL should prioritize players’ health Recent injuries in the NFL highlight a need for reform in the industry

By Nicole Scotton Staff Writer

On Jan. 2, the NFL’s Buffalo Bills defensive back, Damar Hamlin, collapsed on the field after tackling Cincinnati wide receiver, Tee Higgins. It was later discovered that Hamlin had suffered from cardiac arrest, most likely coming from the hit. The game was ultimately suspended only after the NFL debated over whether or not to keep playing. This controversial discussion of whether or not to resume the game upset fans on both teams and led to the question of whether or not the NFL is taking the right procedures in regards to their players’ health. Does the NFL prioritize their players, or do they only care about their business?

It has been made evident that the NFL is more focused on business transactions and monetary value rather than the players’ wellness. To them, the talented football stars that have been transformed into celebrities seem like merely a pawn to their game. The $132 billion company attracts 184 billion fans that they do not want to disappoint, because after all, the fans are where they acquire their money from. Many fans at the Monday game were visibly upset, most shaking their heads and covering their mouths with their hands after discovering how the NFL had handled the event. While the NFL does have a notorious tight schedule, it is still inexcusable to disregard somebody’s health. The big industry reacted to the event as if it was meaningless and unimportant, disregarding the talented players’ wellbeing. The fact that there was ever a debate on whether or not to resume the game shines light on their questionable morality of the NFL. If the NFL truly cared about what their audience wanted, the game would have been postponed immediately. Although this problem is more pertinent when it comes to national sports leagues like the NFL, this problem is also relevant to high school sports. Many student athletes feel pressured to still play in their sports despite not being in good health. Many athletes will run on injured ankles, perform despite having concussions, and even overexert their bodies when they are not feeling their best. Doing so can cause serious and even irreversible injury, but high school students feel so pressured to carry on their athleticism as college is nearing that they are willing to take these risks that are prone to lifelong difficulty. Schools must provide more education and support with respect to school sports for the wellbeing of their students. They should prioritize their student athletes’ health, and must be able to identify when the student could be concealing an injury. More injury related education should be provided to emphasize why students should avoid putting themselves in danger. Critics may argue that the eager football stars are aware of exactly what they are signing up for when they commit to the sport; however, the NFL should still take substantial injury-preventive measures to protect their players. Football is a major contact sport, so injuries are bound to happen. Common football related injuries include muscle strains, broken and fractured bones, concussions and many others. However, the aggressive sport unfortunately can also lead to many more serious injuries, such as brain trauma-related injuries and heart complications due to the aggressive nature of the tackles that the players endure each game. It is important to avoid complications such as these, as they can be fatal. Although high-paying NFL players are willingly signing up for the sport and are aware of the many dangers that comes with it, they are participating in the sport for their love of football, not to put their lives on the line. Despite the mostly-unavoidable risks that come with football, the NFL should still prioritize its players’ health, as it is common human decency to do so. Football, or any other sport for that matter, should never be responsible for taking somebody’s life.