The NFL has cut in half the percentage of concussions caused by helmet-to-helmet hits since roughly '00, an NFL outside medical adviser told a webinar today. The session gave information to companies considering bidding on the next round of grant funding in the league’s Head Health Challenge. Univ. of Virginia Center for Applied Biomechanics Dir Jeff Crandall attributed the decline to rules changes. In '15 and '16, of the 383 identified concussions from specific plays, he said, 36% were from helmet-to-helmet hits, and 19% caused by the helmet hitting the ground.
Crandall emphasized on the webinar the idea of position-specific helmets. For example, the bulk of quarterback concussions are caused by the rear of helmets hitting the turf, he said. He posted slides suggesting helmets, one of which looked like a lacrosse helmet with a lot of space in the back, and another that deployed the equivalent of an airbag in the back upon impact. The $60M Head Health Challenge is awarding grants to design safer football equipment. The third round is scheduled to be awarded early next year, with bids due for the fourth round in January.
