“You can replace a lot of body parts, but you can’t replace a brain.” Ben Roethlisberger found that out the hard way. The former Steelers star did what few in his position would—he self-reported a concussion, putting health over heroics in a league where grit is everything. Every hit, every wobble, and foggy-eyed stare is a reminder of the stakes these athletes face. Just ask Josh Allen’s teammate, who had fans gasping after a brutal hit against the Chiefs. With concussions still casting a shadow over the game, the NFL’s latest update might just flip the script.

According to the NFL, concussions have hit a historic low this season. We’re talking about a 17% drop compared to 2023 and a 12% dip from the past three years. It could easily be called solid progress, especially with all the new helmets and stricter safety rules. Jeff Miller, the NFL exec handling player health, dropped a truth bomb: “Today is an important milestone but not the end of our work.”

A huge part of the drop is thanks to the new helmets, which are the biggest safety upgrade since 2021. Plus, the NFL’s been cracking down on enforcing safety rules, which is making a real difference. Another game-changer? The Dynamic Kickoff rule. Returns went up 57%, but the real glow-up came with concussions dropping 43%. Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL’s chief medical officer, said, “This season’s injury data underscores real progress in our efforts to reduce concussions and lower-extremity strains.”

However, sometimes it’s not just about the big-picture stats—it’s about individual stories. Just look at Tua Tagovailoa, whose concussion history in 2022 sparked major conversations about the league’s concussion protocols. After a brutal hit against the Bengals, the situation became a wake-up call for everyone, especially since Tua had already been dealing with a concussion earlier in the week. His injuries really put the spotlight on the need for better safety measures, and the NFL has been under pressure to ensure that no other player has to go through that kind of experience again.

And then there’s Ben Roethlisberger, who’s been very vocal about how concussions made him seriously rethink his career. He’s talked about moments when he realized it wasn’t just about football anymore—“I was literally on the sideline probably for the first time maybe in my life thinking about my family and not going back into the game because I did not feel quite right.” Ben’s reflections, alongside Tua’s struggles, have shown just how much impact concussions can have, not just on players’ health but on their long-term future. The total number of concussions suffered in preseason and regular-season NFL practices and games was 219 in 2023, up from 213 in 2022, according to The Athletic.

But these two weren’t the exception. It seems they were the rule.

Concussions have long been one of the most serious concerns in the NFL, with many former players sharing harrowing experiences. Few have been as vocal as Harry Carson, the Hall of Fame linebacker who’s battled the long-term effects of brain injuries since the 1990s. Carson, who was diagnosed with post-concussion syndrome in 1990, has spoken openly about the cognitive struggles he faces. “I don’t think as clearly as I used to. Nor is my speech, diction, selection of vocabulary as good as it used to be, and I don’t know why.”

Carson’s experience is a part of the larger conversation around concussion-related injuries in the NFL, a conversation that has led to multiple legal actions against the league. In 2013, over 4,000 former NFL players filed a class-action lawsuit against the league, citing the long-term damage caused by repeated concussions. The NFL eventually reached a $765 million settlement, but it wasn’t just the money that drew attention—it was the implication that the league had failed to protect its players from known dangers. Carson, while not part of the lawsuit, made it clear how he felt about the outcome. “I think the NFL has given everybody 765 million reasons why you don’t want to play football,” he remarked, underscoring the severity of the issue.

Other players have shared similar concerns. Chris Borland, a linebacker who retired after just one season in the NFL, was one of the first to make a bold stand against the risks of concussions. He decided to walk away from the game at just 24 and explained, “I just honestly want to do what’s best for my health. From what I’ve researched and what I’ve experienced, I don’t think it’s worth the risk.” Borland’s decision was a wake-up call to the entire league—and to every player who’d been ignoring the real dangers.

And then there’s Brett Favre, who played 20 seasons in the NFL and later admitted that he might have suffered thousands of concussions during his career. “I probably had thousands of concussions. Not one or two. I just thought getting knocked out was part of the game,” he said.

Such instances brought out the widespread culture in the NFL, which has been to downplay concussion risks for years, allowing players to continue playing without fully understanding the potential consequences.

But it seems the NFL has finally taken notice and stepped up. As the league continues to face scrutiny over its handling of concussion-related injuries, they’re pledging to make improvements. “Through better equipment, rule changes, and a shift in the culture, we will make the game safer and more exciting,” Miller emphasized in a recent statement. While these changes are long overdue, they show that the league is at least acknowledging the need for reform, making safety a priority alongside the thrill of the game.

When it comes to lower-body injuries, the NFL’s trying there, too. With tools like the Digital Athlete and tweaks to training camp, time-loss injuries have dropped, especially in the lower body. The Dynamic Kickoff rule also played a huge part in this, reducing lower-body injuries by 48% on kickoffs alone.

So, while the NFL is making significant progress in reducing concussions, it’s clear there’s still a long way to go. The improvements in helmet technology and rule enforcement are showing promise, but the reality is that concussions still happen, even in the most high-stakes moments. Remember Christian Benford’s scary hit during the AFC Championship? It showed that no matter how much the league improves player safety, the risk is always there. It’s a harsh reality, but it’s one the NFL must continue to confront as it works to make the game safer for everyone.

Christian Benford’s scary hit was a setback Josh Allen’s Bills couldn’t afford

Josh Allen took it on the chin. With the game on the line, he had the rock in his hands—a chance to tie it up or take the lead. But his last-ditch fourth-down heave slipped through Dalton Kincaid’s fingers… Result? The AFC title slipped out of their reach as well. “Yeah, it sucks,” Allen admitted, replaying every missed opportunity.

But that’s not the only thing that sucked for Buffalo during the Chiefs game. Christian Benford had a tough break during the AFC Championship against the Chiefs. After a helmet-to-helmet hit from his teammate, Damar Hamlin, while tackling Xavier Worthy, Benford went down hard and wobbled as he tried to get up. His teammate, Rasul Douglas, immediately made sure he got to the sideline for medical attention, and not long after, Benford was carted off the field and ruled out for the rest of the game. This was actually his second concussion in just a week after taking a hit in the Bills‘ win over the Ravens.

But don’t worry—Benford’s staying strong. He shared an update on Instagram the next day, reassuring fans: “Thank you for all the prayers and all the love. For God has granted me strength. I’m up, well and better with strength from the Lord. No need to worry. I’m straight.” His message was all about gratitude and staying positive, putting fans’ concerns to rest.

Before the injury, though, Benford was roaring this season. He was ranked No. 5 among cornerbacks by Pro Football Focus and topped the HAVOC Rating on Field Vision Sports. He racked up 64 tackles and two interceptions and even earned a first-place All-Pro vote. With his talent and determination, Benford’s bound to come back stronger than ever.