2016 – Quarterback Cam Newton threw for 192 yards and a touchdown in a 23 to 20 win over the Saints. However, the victory didn’t come without a cost. During the last five minutes of regulation, Luke Kuechly suffered a concussion when he tackled running back Tim Hightower. Kuechly was in tears as he was escorted off the field.
In 2020, Luke Kuechly retired from the NFL at 28 while at the peak of his career in order to raise awareness of brain trauma. This was earlier than the average retirement age in the NFL, 35 years old. Luckily, Kuechly shared his reasons with us in an interview.
“I think everybody understands the situation around T.B.I. and concussion in the head space. I think everybody understands that there’s stuff that can be done. But the more we can get up there and talk about it and explain perspectives and different ways to look at it and small ways to help to have a positive impact, I think the better off we are,” Kuechly says. He had visited Congress last month to discuss the situation.
The most important part for Kuechly was staying safe. He wants the opportunity to play what he loves, but he won’t risk his life for it. Everyone playing it understands it’s a dangerous game. It’s physical; it’s tough. There are bulky guys running around and getting injured is inevitable. He shares his love for baseball and cares for the 12-year-olds he coaches.
When Kuechly coaches children, their parents have lots of worries. He says, “Hey, you do what you think is best for your child. You’re their parent. You ultimately know what’s best for them.” He talks about the positive aspects of athletics, whether it’s what he learned about toughness, how to fight through things, how to build relationships, and his experience with the game.
Injuries in football have been increasing, though. According to data released by the league, there were 149 concussions suffered over 271 games this season. This suggests an 18% jump from 2021 (126) and is 14% higher than the three-year average (130) between 2018 and 2020. However, rules in the NFL have been changing since 2002 for player safety. They include prohibiting players from lowering their heads to make contact with their helmets, stopping defenders from needlessly tackling and landing on quarterbacks, and reducing big collisions on kickoff returns. As the NFL starts to improve their rules, it is up to the players themselves to ensure their best safety.
In 2020, Luke Kuechly retired from the NFL at 28 while at the peak of his career in order to raise awareness of brain trauma. This was earlier than the average retirement age in the NFL, 35 years old. Luckily, Kuechly shared his reasons with us in an interview.
“I think everybody understands the situation around T.B.I. and concussion in the head space. I think everybody understands that there’s stuff that can be done. But the more we can get up there and talk about it and explain perspectives and different ways to look at it and small ways to help to have a positive impact, I think the better off we are,” Kuechly says. He had visited Congress last month to discuss the situation.
The most important part for Kuechly was staying safe. He wants the opportunity to play what he loves, but he won’t risk his life for it. Everyone playing it understands it’s a dangerous game. It’s physical; it’s tough. There are bulky guys running around and getting injured is inevitable. He shares his love for baseball and cares for the 12-year-olds he coaches.
When Kuechly coaches children, their parents have lots of worries. He says, “Hey, you do what you think is best for your child. You’re their parent. You ultimately know what’s best for them.” He talks about the positive aspects of athletics, whether it’s what he learned about toughness, how to fight through things, how to build relationships, and his experience with the game.
Injuries in football have been increasing, though. According to data released by the league, there were 149 concussions suffered over 271 games this season. This suggests an 18% jump from 2021 (126) and is 14% higher than the three-year average (130) between 2018 and 2020. However, rules in the NFL have been changing since 2002 for player safety. They include prohibiting players from lowering their heads to make contact with their helmets, stopping defenders from needlessly tackling and landing on quarterbacks, and reducing big collisions on kickoff returns. As the NFL starts to improve their rules, it is up to the players themselves to ensure their best safety.