Objective:

To analyze the language used in newspaper articles when describing concussions in five NFL players from 1980-2022.

Background:

Concussions are commonly encountered in contact sports. Innovative technologies have been developed to reduce the rate and impact of concussions. We evaluated language used to describe concussions in the National Football League (NFL) in newspaper articles over five decades.

Design/Methods:

We identified 1 NFL player per decade, and analyzed the description of their concussion: George Visger (1980), Troy Aikman (1994), John Kitna (2007), Mohamed Massaquoi (2010), and Tua Tagovailoa (2022). Newspaper databases were searched for articles using the players’ names with the terms “concussion”, “head injury”, and “brain injury.”

Results:

George Visger developed hydrocephalus requiring a ventriculo-peritoneal shunt in 1981 after enduring multiple concussions throughout his career. Articles from 1982 and 1984 discussed Visger’s concussions and expressed concern about injuries in NFL players. In 1994, The Hartford Courant voiced significant concern when Troy Aikman lived through two concussions, advocating for changes in helmets and the use of artificial turf. In addition, it noted that Aikman’s team “downplayed the seriousness of his concussion.” In 2007, John Kitna suffered memory impairment after a concussion. While his return to the game was viewed as “heroic”, it simultaneously raised a fear that this stance, “...could send a dangerous message...” to young athletes. In 2010, Mohamed Massaquoi bore a helmet-to-helmet hit from James Harrison, which led to a call for stricter penalties on tackles. In 2022, Tua Tagovailova endured multiple concussions. One instance describes him continuing to play while ataxic. The Times openly criticized the coach for not recognizing signs of concussion and not taking it seriously.

Conclusions:

In the last four decades, newspaper reporting on NFL players expresses increasing concern about the seriousness and ramifications of concussions. Increased media attention has led to increased awareness among the public.