Noah DeVault

Although the NFL still causes the most injuries, the league is becoming too soft. 

The NFL causes around 80 injuries a year, but in the 2000s it was closer to 150. 

Over the years the NFL has implemented rules that have tried to prevent injuries. Some have worked out really well, others have done nothing but make players less aggressive. 

The league has become really strict with protecting quarterbacks. They can’t be hit on their way out of bounds, which is a good rule … until a ref has to decide whether or not the quarterback was going out of bounds or if the hit was necessary. 

Big hits are way less common nowadays due to new targeting rules related to blindside hits. 

The hip-drop tackle was banned in 2024 making it tougher for defensive players to do their job, and former players like JJ Watt spoke out against the rule.

The NFL needs to let up on some of the newer rules and let football go back to having big hitters like Ray Lewis. 

There have been multiple different types of questions that all lead to the same question: “Is the NFL getting too soft?” I believe that the NFL has not gotten softer. I think that the equipment is safer. 

What leads me to believe this is the statistics. In 2010 there was a 63% chance of injuries to players but now in the 2024 season the percentage is 27%. This includes concussions, ligament tears and career-ending injuries.   

The injuries percentage will continue to drop due to the fact that the NFL in the 2024-2025 season is starting to implement New better Position Specific Helmets. This leads me to believe that the injuries will still continue to drop due to the fact that the NFL is just starting to do something to start letting players last longer in the league. That being said, injuries will still happen due to heavy contact or a player’s own mistake.

The position that has the highest injury percentage is running back. This is due to the fact of the high physical demand and constantly being tackled and having frequent change of directions. 

The average NFL career lasts about 3.3-3.5 years, but a first-round pick is about 9.3 years.

The main thing that ends these careers early are injuries. When that happens the players lose money. For example Tyreek Hill with his injuries he is going to lose $1.4m per game since he isn’t playing.

Noah Trapp

There have been multiple different types of questions that all lead to the same question: “Is the NFL getting too soft?” I believe that the NFL has not gotten softer. I think that the equipment is safer. 

What leads me to believe this is the statistics. In 2010 there was a 63% chance of injuries to players but now in the 2024 season the percentage is 27%. This includes concussions, ligament tears and career-ending injuries.   

The injuries percentage will continue to drop due to the fact that the NFL in the 2024-2025 season is starting to implement New better Position Specific Helmets. This leads me to believe that the injuries will still continue to drop due to the fact that the NFL is just starting to do something to start letting players last longer in the league. That being said, injuries will still happen due to heavy contact or a player’s own mistake.

The position that has the highest injury percentage is running back. This is due to the fact of the high physical demand and constantly being tackled and having frequent change of directions. 

The average NFL career lasts about 3.3-3.5 years, but a first-round pick is about 9.3 years.

The main thing that ends these careers early are injuries. When that happens the players lose money. For example Tyreek Hill with his injuries he is going to lose $1.4m per game since he isn’t playing.