The 2017 NFL season saw a “statistically significant” increase in the proportion of head injuries caused by helmet-to-helmet collisions. Richard Kent, an engineer who consults to the NFL Health and Safety Committee, shared that preliminary finding from the NFL’s forensic concussion research.
Kent, the deputy director of the University of Virginia’s Center for Applied Biomechanics, shared those early results during a call on Wednesday with engineers and equipment designers. As part of its Engineering Roadmap, the NFL has released sophisticated digital models of four popular helmet types to crowdsource and stimulate innovation in order to enhance athlete safety.