NFL will punish teams that fail to follow concussion protocol

The NFL has announced it will investigate and punish teams who fail to follow the league’s concussion protocol.

Your teams on the go or at home. Personalize SI with our new App. Install on iOS or Android.

The NFL and NFLPA announced Monday a new agreement to enforce the league’s concussion protocol by punishing teams that violate the process.

The NFL’s current concussion protocol is a multi-step system from spotting a head injury during a game, administering tests and monitoring recovery during the week. Players who have sustained a concussion and enter the protocol are not allowed to return to the field until they are cleared by an independent doctor. 

Multiple NFL officials said in the off-season the league would review its concussion protocol process. The protocol was scrutinized late last season after the Rams were heavily criticized for leaving quarterback Case Keenum in a game after he had sustained a head injury. The Rams were not punished for the incident. 

• Jeff Fisher’s handling of Case Keenum simply not good enough

Under the new agreement, if a team is found to have violated the protocol process, they can be assessed up to a $150,000 fine for the first offense. Subsequent violations will result in a $100,000 fine at minimum. If the commissioner determines a team violated the protocol for a competitive advantage, the team could be required to forfeit a draft pick in addition to fines.