Two concussions. Seven days. Christian Benford’s tumultuous week between January 19 and January 26, 2025, reveals glaring cracks in the NFL’s concussion management, sparking debates on the league’s handling of player safety and concussion recovery—and raises challenging questions about how far teams will go in pursuit of victory. His timeline sheds light on potential gaps in the NFL’s Concussion Protocol and raises critical questions about player safety and league accountability.
https://apnews.com/article/bills-chiefs-afc-playoffs-373c1042f4a7835ea43c46844f4cbcb1
In the closing moments of the Bills’ divisional playoff victory over the Baltimore Ravens, Benford sustained a concussion during an onside kick attempt. He collided with a Ravens player while teammate Rasul Douglas secured the recovery. Despite the evident risk, Benford’s initial sideline assessment did not result in his immediate removal from the game, and he was later diagnosed with a concussion.
Following the game, Bills head coach Sean McDermott confirmed that Benford had entered the NFL’s concussion protocol. This marked the first concerning sign of procedural lapses, as visible symptoms such as ataxia should have mandated immediate exclusion from play under the NFL’s established guidelines.
Throughout the week, Benford remained in the concussion protocol, leaving his availability for the upcoming AFC Championship Game in question. Despite this, he was cleared just hours before the game, with his injury status downplayed as a “personal issue.”
Such a rapid clearance—within just seven days of his initial concussion—directly conflicts with the NFL’s Return-to-Participation (RTP) process and raises questions about whether the league’s RTP standards are genuinely being enforced when stakes are high.
Playoff pressures often lead to expedited clearance decisions, as seen in other cases like Trevor Lawrence’s injury. These pressures can overshadow the medical necessity for adequate recovery, increasing the risk of recurrence and long-term complications.
For reference, a systematic review in 2023 found that 80% of athletes return to play within 19-21 days post-concussion. Additionally, even within the NFL, the median RTP time for concussions is 9 days—highlighting that Benford’s return was expedited far beyond what is typical, even for the NFL, whose timeline is arguably too fast anyway. This raises significant concerns about whether competitive pressures influenced medical decisions.
Early in the first quarter of the AFC Championship Game, Benford suffered another concussion following a helmet-to-helmet collision with teammate Damar Hamlin. This devastating blow underscored the consequences of rushed recovery timelines. The impact left him visibly unsteady, and teammate Rasul Douglas intervened to ensure he did not return to the field.
The recurrence of a concussion within such a short timeframe—a phenomenon known to increase the risk of long-term neurological damage significantly—highlights a critical failure in the NFL’s implementation of its concussion protocols.
The NFL’s Concussion Protocol is designed to prioritize player safety through rigorous assessment and phased recovery. However, Benford’s case reveals multiple areas of concern:
The NFL protocol mandates a five-phase RTP process, with athletes progressing only if symptom-free. Benford’s clearance within seven days of his initial concussion ignored the median RTP time of 19-21 days observed in 80% of athletes. Even within the NFL, the average RTP time is approximately 9 days, meaning Benford’s return was significantly faster than general and league-specific standards. This expedited timeline underscores the likelihood of competitive pressures overruling best medical practices.
During the Divisional Round game, Benford exhibited “no-go” signs such as ataxia, which should have prompted immediate locker-room evaluation. Furthermore, his rapid clearance for the AFC Championship Game suggests that serial assessments and consultations with independent neurological consultants (INCs) were either inadequate or bypassed.
The protocol assigns Unaffiliated Neurotrauma Consultants (UNCs) to ensure adherence during games. However, there is no evidence that independent medical staff flagged concerns about Benford’s clearance despite his recent injury.
Sustaining a second concussion within a week dramatically increases the risk of prolonged recovery and long-term neurological consequences. The Amsterdam 2022 International Consensus on Concussion in Sport explicitly warns against premature RTP, emphasizing the need for symptom-free recovery and gradual reintroduction to play.
Proper concussion RTP management—rooted in evidence-based practices—is the cornerstone of protecting players and preventing avoidable long-term consequences. While the NFL’s prized Guardian Caps might offer marginal benefits in reducing head impacts, their focus on equipment solutions distracts from the core issue: inadequate recovery protocols and premature return-to-play decisions, as highlighted by cases like Christian Benford’s. This superficial emphasis fails to address the systemic mismanagement that jeopardizes player health.
Ensuring rigorous adherence to recovery protocols will do far more to protect players than any equipment innovation. While these measures may help mitigate risks, ensuring rigorous adherence to recovery protocols is far more impactful in preventing long-term neurological damage.
To prevent cases like Benford’s, the NFL must address systemic weaknesses in its concussion management:
Mandate a minimum recovery period for high-risk athletes, with no exceptions based on game significance. As of 2024, Australia is ahead of the curve on this one.
Enhance the authority of UNCs and INCs to override team medical staff if protocols are not being followed.
Provide ongoing education on the risks of premature RTP, particularly in high-stakes scenarios like playoffs.
Require public disclosure of concussion management timelines and decisions to ensure adherence to protocol.
Christian Benford’s concussion timeline is a cautionary tale about the dangers of prioritizing competition over player safety. It further illustrates how systemic changes are desperately needed to align with modern concussion science and ethical sportsmanship. While the NFL’s Concussion Protocol provides a robust framework, its efficacy depends on rigorous implementation and accountability. Without systemic changes, similar lapses will continue to jeopardize athlete health and undermine the league’s commitment to safety.
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