How did the NFL's biggest safety experiment in years play out?

In this clip from a bonus episode of My Favorite Mistake, Dr. Thom Mayer, Medical Director for the NFL Players Association, explains how the 2024 “dynamic kickoff” experiment reduced injury risk while keeping the play exciting.

“We didn’t change the mass. But we changed the acceleration.”

Dr. Mayer describes the scientific thinking behind the change, how lower closing speeds reduced impact forces, and why this rule change is a model for systems thinking and continuous improvement in high-risk environments.

📉 Concussion rate on kickoffs dropped by 43%
📈 Kickoff return rate increased from 22% to 33%

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