North Texas Research Forum 2025
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Division
North Texas
Hospital
Medical City Denton
Specialty
Orthopedic Surgery
Document Type
Presentation
Publication Date
2025
Keywords
injuries, sports medicine, sports injuries
Disciplines
Medicine and Health Sciences | Orthopedics | Sports Medicine | Wounds and Injuries
Abstract
Introduction: Kickoffs in the National Football League (NFL) remain one of the most dangerous plays during an NFL game, with high levels of injuries. In 2024, the NFL implemented kickoff rules intended to reduce the number of injuries during this play, and improve player safety. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of the 2024 NFL kickoff rules on the incidence of injuries during the kickoff. Methods Injuries on kickoffs were identified for the 2024, 2023, and 2022 NFL seasons using the transcribed game book for each game on the official NFL website. Injury type was confirmed using the injury report on each individual teams website for the following week. If an injury was unreported on the subsequent injury report, it was listed as an unspecified injury. Injury rate was calculated for each injury category during each year using average game exposure. The incidence rate ratio was calculated by dividing the IRR of one season over the other season. 95% confidence intervals were calculated for the IRR and a z-test for proportions was used to test for significance. Results Comparison of the 2024 versus 2022 season showed no statistically significant difference (P>.05) in the number of overall injuries, concussions, or subcategory of injuries. When compared with the 2023 NFL season, the 2024 NFL season showed a statistically significant rise in lower extremity injuries during the 2024 NFL season (P=0.048), but no statistically significant difference (P>.05) in the number of overall injuries, concussions, or remainder of subcategory injuries. When the 2023 and 2022 NFL seasons were compared, there was no statistically significant difference (P>.05) in the number of overall injuries, concussions or additional subcategories. Conclusions After the 2024 NFL kickoff rules were implemented, there was no improvement in decreasing the level of injuries that players experienced on kickoffs when compared with the two prior seasons. The kickoff remains a dangerous play with high levels of injuries, and the NFL should continue to evaluate potential rule changes to improve the safety of players during this play.
Original Publisher
HCA Healthcare Graduate Medical Education
Recommended Citation
Puga, Troy; Haechten, Tanner; Cush, Coleman; Box, McKenna; Drawbert, Hans; and Riehl, John, "NFL Kick-off Rule Change: A Comparative Analysis of Injury Incidence" (2025). North Texas Research Forum 2025. 1.
https://scholarlycommons.hcahealthcare.com/northtexas2025/1