In the year of 1686, one scientist forever revolutionized the world’s understanding of science and the natural world. This man’s name was Sir Isaac Newton. Newton was an English mathematician, astronomer, and physicist who had a great interest in the physical universe. Some of his most famous scientific discoveries were his three laws of motion, published in his book, Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica. His second law of motion, defining that a force is proportional to the magnitude of the mass and acceleration of an object, can be applied to many different aspects of life (NASA). One application of Newton’s second law can be found within the sport of football. Today, football players are becoming bigger, faster, and stronger. The result of these factors, as explained by Sir Isaac Newton, has created a dangerous game with an increasing occurrence of injuries. Today, the most common injuries while playing football are head injuries, most notably, concussions. The head injuries that players are sustaining throughout the course of the game are negatively impacting the bodies and life of many players after football. The increase in life-changing injuries has prompted the debate about whether football is worth the damage that an athlete’s body will face from playing. Football has turned into a vicious sport, therefore, changes must be made within the game to protect both the players and the game of football. Statistics and the evaluation life after football help to show that there must be something done to save the game. For the sport of football, it is time for a change.

Over the past decade, statistics on head injuries have shown that the sport of football has grown increasingly dangerous. As explained by Newton’s second law, players now face a greater risk of head injuries, with increasing magnitude, due to the growing size and speed of players. Studies completed by the NFL, or the National Football League, have shown that players are now 58% more likely than players from a decade ago, to receive a concussion while playing football (McCrea). Not only do the big hits damage the brain, but the small repetitive blows to the head have also shown to have a drastic impact on the health of the brain. By the nature of the game, concussions are bound to happen. Despite this fact, what is being done after the concussions is what can be the most damaging to a player. According to a study completed by NCAA football doctors, an astounding 85% of concussions from football go untreated. Players are also returning to play an average of two weeks earlier than they should, which results in more damage done to the brain (McCrea). The current rate of concussions and the lack of medical care for those who are concussed are what make football exponentially more dangerous. To further show the dangers within the game of football, it is important to also understand what happens to the body after concussions. When a player experiences a head injury, the athlete’s brain receives tiny tears within the brain tissue. After the tears are made, the body responds by producing the protein tau in the brain. This protein is linked to various brain diseases, such as CTE, or chronic traumatic encephalopathy, which slowly degenerates the brain (Muchnick 165). Many other cognitive disorders, such as depression, anxiety, and dementia have been linked to tau and head injuries occurring from football. In a study by Dr. Frank Conidi, a correlation between those who played at the collegiate level or above and head injuries was made. His findings showed that 40% of players will show abnormal brain structures due to repetitive blows to the head (Park). This extremely large percentage shows exactly how much is at risk every time a players steps onto a football field. As more studies are completed and medical research continues to grow, the dangers of football have become much more evident. If nothing is done to the sport of football, the statistics may only rise, leading to an even more dangerous game. Therefore, to build a safer environment, football leagues across the country need to make efforts to lower the statisistics. With the use of the newest data and technologies, leagues around the United States can work to learn what steps should be made to stop the damage each hit does to the brain of all athletes.

On the date of May 2, 2012, the football community lost one of the greatest players to ever play the game. Junior Seau, a twenty year veteran and NFL Hall of Famer, sadly took his own life at his home in Oceanside, California. During his suicide, Seau had shot himself in the chest, not head, which raised question about the tragic event. Doctors believed Seau may have left his brain in tact so it could be used for concussion research. Upon completion of an autopsy, doctors identified a large quantity of the tau protein in his brain (NFL Football Hits). From the death of Junior Seau and various other ex-NFL players, the National Football League was able to link playing football and various degenerative brain diseases. Just as Seau experienced, the game of football takes a great toll on one’s body. Every time a player takes the field, they place themselves at risk for hundreds of life changing injuries. In the long run, the lasting effects from football are not worth having a lifetime of pain. There is no award, salary, or passion for the game that can justify the life threatening injuries received from football. The morals of society should clearly indicate that all athletes should stay clear of the game that can lead to CTE, Alzheimer’s disease, suicide, and more (NFL Football Hits). An imense ammount of responsibility comes with each time a player takes the field in order to keep himself, teammates, and opponents as safe as possible. There is also a level of responsibility, within the game of football, that falls into the hands of the fans. Every year, millions of people take to the stadium and their couches to watch varying levels of play. Football has become a major part of American culture, but should society be so interested in such a dangerous game? The answer to this question comes from an article written by Mark Diaz Truman. In his article, One Hit Too Many, Truman highlights that fans watch football for the big hits and hard tackles, the most dangerous part of the game. The desire for the concussion causing hits has created a vicous culture surrounding the game (Truman). Instead of the hits and tackles, fans should focus on the individual skillsets and talents of players. It is highly immoral to enjoy a sport for all the same reasons that can negatively impact the life of an athlete forever. Therefore, the ideals for a healthy life should take a precedent over any sport or game. Many ex-NFL players have spoken out against football due to the negative impact it can have on the players. In a recent interview, Bo Jackson, a Heisman Trophy award winner and National Football League Hall of Famer, shared his opinion of the game of football. He had expressed his distaste for the game, due to the potential for injury, and even went as far as saying he never would have played had he known the risks (Payne). When current and past National Football League stars begin to speak out against a sport that they personally put years of effort into, there is a clear and obvious need for change within the game. With the years of experience and knowledge of the game possessed by such players, their opinions should be greatly respected. In all, life is more than just the game of football, thus athletes should consider their life and health after the sport, before ever stepping onto the field. 

In response to the growing dangers within the sport of football, there are many different things that can be done to create a safer game. The first change that can be done to football is a move towards rules that make safer play. Of the many aspects of the game, kickoffs, punt returns, and tackling can become an area of focus for the rule changes. These three parts of the game have the highest rate of injury, per play, in the entire game (McCrea). League officials should work to limit the number of kickoffs and punts that occur each game. These types of plays should potentially be removed them from the game as a whole, if the statistics do not change once adjustments are made. As for tackling, there needs to be stricter rules on when and where a player can be hit. The head and neck region are already areas of the body that are protected, but this region may need to be extended to further down the body (Truman). To the dislike of the players, bigger penalties and fines should be awarded to players who violate these new rules. In return, players will be less likely to make a tackle that threatens the safety of both themselves and their opponent. A second thing that can be done to protect the safety of players is to show more emphasis on proper tackling and hitting. A majority of football injuries can be prevented by using the proper form to tackle. Players, especially younger athletes, have a tendency to lead their tackles with their head down, and aim for the head of their opponent. The resulting hit leaves both players susceptible to head injuries, paralysis, and even death (Park). By teaching football players to tackle with the shoulder and not to target the head of ball carriers, the number of head and neck injuries will drastically decrease. Not only will rules changes and proper technique help to create a safer game, but the equipment each player wears can play a large role in the safety of the players. Newer technology for helmets can help to disperse the impact from hits, thus allowing for fewer concussions and head injuires. The National Football League currently has a hundred million dollor initiative aimed at concussion research. With their research fundings, league scientists and doctors will study the impacts of concussions, and work to build safer helmets and equipment (Scutti). New materials that better absorb the impact of hits can lessen the likelyhood of injury with each hit. This technology will help to revolutionize player safety and can be the change that the game needs. Football may have turned into a vicous sport, but the changes that created such a game can always be corrected. As a whole, leagues all across the country should focus their efforts to make universal changes within the game to essentially save the sport of football. 

Since the year of 1869, the sport of football has left its mark on American history. Millions of different people have played the very same game that students at Rutgers University and Princeton University first played in New Brunswick, New Jersey (Muchnick 26). This long tradition of football is also what has promted many football enthusiasts to stand up against change for the game. Football was designed to be a rough and tough sport, and the minor changes that the game is currently seeing has upset many fans. Arguably so, the game is becoming transformed into an entirely new sport. Given the vast set of limitations set out by organizations, such as the National Football League and USA Football, the sport that everyone knows and loves is becoming very unfamiliar (Chadiha). The changing rules have completely altered the flow of the game. Penalties and fines for contact now plague the sport. Essentially, many people stand against change, as the sport that they love is being destroyed and replaced by an entirely unique, new game. Another reason why the sport of football does not require any change lies within the the personal responsibility of each player. Due to the increasing knowledge about concussions and the potential risk for injury within the sport of football, it can easily be declared that players are well aware of the risks they face when stepping onto the field. Each and every player should be educated about the dangerous of football injuries. Thus, the choice of whether or not to play could be made individually by each player. If one believes that the game of football is to brutal of a sport, then that individual should seek a less physical sport. There is no need to change a game that has been a part of American history for so long, just because certain people believe that the game is too violent. Today, players are well aware of the inherent risks that come with playing football. Therefore every time they step out onto the field, the players essentially agree to any injuries that occur and no changes should be made to the game. Lastly, the recent debate over the dangers of football has caught the attention of many current and past players across the country. The general consensus of these players, as highlighted by Jeffri Chadiha, in Heed the Cry of the Tough Guys, is that today’s football has simply become too soft. In the past, especially during the 1970s and 1980s, football was known as a hard-nosed sport. The general nature of the game is to focribly move a football across a line defended by the other team (Chadiha). Contact in football is inevitable, thus making changes towards a safer and gentler sport is very contradictory of itself. Despite the various reasons as to why there should not be any change within the sport of football, society must step in before the game grows to dangerous. There is a fine line between a healthy lifestyle and one plagued with injury and disease. Football should not be the reason someone has to suffer for a lifetime.  It is human nature to protect the people and things that society loves, therefore, the critics of change need to be silenced before the damage done by football becomes completely irreversible. 

In life, there are many more important things than football. The sport has grown to be exponentially dangerous, thus there is a dire need for changes before the game gets out of control. Statistics have shown the rise in number of head, neck, and other life threating injuries from football. A direct link between various diseases has also been confirmed by doctors and scientists across the country. It is important to evaluate one’s potential life after football, when first considering playing the sport. Overall, society must greatly consider the morals of a healthy life when addressing the risks involved with football. There are many reasons why people stand against change, but one important underlying factor outweighs all the critics. All people are mortal. As living beings, humans are only given the opportunity for life just once. People are very precious and delicate creatures. In all, life is a terrible thing to waste. There are an infinite number of things in life, with a greater meaning to people, than just a game of football. Therefore, society must work to protect the brothers, fathers, friends, and loved ones that place themselves at risk every time they step on the field. At the end of the day, football is just a game. For the sake of the sport, something must be done to create a new, safe atmosphere surrounding the game, before it becomes too late. To save the game of football and the many lives of its players, it all starts with a change.
