NFL and Concussion: How the League Handled its Biggest Threat to Date (and What it Didn't Do)
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The document discusses the NFL's success in profits and popularity but also the controversy around concussions from former players' lawsuits and suicides. While the NFL instituted some safety measures and settled lawsuits, their lack of social media engagement and response to hard hits allowed the media and opinion leaders to frame the narrative as the NFL not caring for players' well-being, which could have been countered through their own messaging to fans.
NFL and Concussion: How the League Handled its Biggest Threat to Date (and What it Didn't Do)
- 1. Russell Varner Public Opinion in New Media
- 2. NFL Success Recently named the most popular sport in America for the 30th consecutive year Brought in $9 billion in profits in 2013 Average NFL team worth: $1.9 billion
- 3. Concussions Lawsuit from former players Jim McMahon Interview (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkes 4Hb0HbI) Junior Seau suicide Bernie Kosar Javhid Best
- 4. NFLs Response Heads Up Football Lawsuit settlement New rules Madden Few, if any, attempts to interact via social media
- 5. The Problem 24/7 Sports News Cycle NFL one of the biggest talking points Media made concussion a talking point daily (Agenda setting) Opinion leaders sided with players (two- step flow, framing, cultivation) Those who opposed seen as against helping older players (spiral of silence)
- 6. The Problem NFL didnt help itself James Harrison hit Backlash from players and fans alike
- 7. What the League Couldve Done Engaged with their fans Two-step flow of their own Used the same propaganda techniques used with Heads Up Football program