football helmet

How big of a problem do you think concussions are in football?

January 30, 2015  |  Jason M. Breslow, Chris Amico  |  1 min read

For football fans everywhere, the NFL’s concussion crisis has raised some uncomfortable questions about what it means to love a sport that’s been shown to cause lasting harm to its players. The league’s ratings continue to enjoy near-record highs, yet at the same time, scientific research increasingly suggests that football can lead to a wide range of long-term brain conditions.

In one recent poll, a majority of Americans said they expect football to be just as popular in 20 years, but 50 percent said they would not want their son to play the game. Joining the chorus of those worried about children playing football is Mike Ditka, the legendary coach of the 1985 Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears, who in an interview this month on HBO’s Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel said, “I think the risk is worse than the reward. I really do.”

Tags:

Reading these stories is free, but telling them is not. Start your monthly gift now to support Flatland’s community-focused reporting.

Preparations Aside, KC World Cup was Quiet for Hospitals, Police

September 16, 2026

Officials said months of planning will serve them well in the year’s to come through improved collaboration.

Related Stories

Vice President JD Vance touches down in Kansas City for a visit on Monday. (U.S Air Force)

Nick’s Picks | Veep, Gerrymandering, Football and More …

Vance Lands in KC Again … Vice President JD Vance will make two stops in the Kansas City area today, his second visit to the metro in less than four months. The White House says Vance will visit a federal law enforcement facility in Kansas City, Missouri, to highlight the Trump administration’s crackdown on fraud….

Read More >

The Fight Against Forgetting 9/11

Schools, nonprofits, and firefighters work to ensure Kansas Citians remember the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as the nation marks the 25th anniversary of the tragedy.

Read More >

United in Opposition: The Bipartisan Response to Data Centers 

From Independence, Missouri, to Osawatomie, Kansas, data centers are angering residents and spurring bipartisan opposition.

Read More >