Consideration of position-specific features of the NFL concussion environment could enable improved risk mitigation through the design of position-specific helmets to improve self-protection as well as protection for the other player with whom the contact occurs. The purpose of this paper is to quantify position-specific features of scenarios resulting in concussions to NFL players, and the players they contact, by reviewing all game footage (broadcast and non-broadcast) over 4 seasons. Position-specific features were documented for 647 concussions in which a primary exposure could be visualized, including impact source, helmet impact location, activity, and the other player with whom the contact occurred. Findings include the over-representation of helmet-to-ground impacts to the rear of the quarterback’s helmet, the high frequency of impacts to the side (upper) location of both concussed players and the players they contacted regardless of position, and distinct differences in the circumstances of concussions to cornerbacks and safeties. The study shows that some features of concussion scenarios are common to all positions, but several position-specific features exist and can inform the design of position-specific helmets for NFL players.

考虑 NFL 脑震荡环境的特定位置特征可以通过设计特定位置的头盔来改善风险缓解，以提高自我保护以及对发生接触的其他球员的保护。本文的目的是通过审查超过 4 个赛季的所有比赛镜头（广播和非广播），量化导致 NFL 球员和他们接触的球员脑震荡的场景的特定位置特征。记录了 647 次脑震荡的特定位置特征，其中可以可视化主要暴露，包括撞击源、头盔撞击位置、活动和发生接触的其他玩家。调查结果包括头盔对地面冲击对四分卫头盔后部的过度表现，对脑震荡球员和他们接触的球员（无论位置如何）的侧面（上部）位置的高频率撞击，以及对角卫和安全人员的脑震荡情况的明显差异。研究表明，脑震荡场景的一些特征对所有位置都是通用的，但存在几个特定于位置的特征，可以为 NFL 球员的特定位置头盔的设计提供信息。