STAT

Opinion: Far from being forgotten, the NFL’s ‘replacement players’ may help make football safer

Long a footnote in sports history, NFL "replacement players" may help researchers better understand how playing professional football affects long-term health.
Chicago Bears' coach Mike Ditka talks with quarterback Mike Hohensee, a replacement player for the Bears during the three-week NFL player strike in 1987.

When NFL players went on strike in 1987, NFL teams scrambled to fill their rosters with replacement players, individuals who had some experience with college or professional football but who weren’t on NFL rosters that year. The games they played during the three-week strike were exceedingly unpopular with fans, and the replacement players became a footnote in sports history.

So it’s ironic that these players may actually play a vital role by helping us understand how playing

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from STAT

STAT2 min read
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About A J&J Cough Syrup, A Pfizer And Moderna Patent Suit, And More
A Johnson & Johnson children’s cough syrup found to contain unsafe levels of a toxic industrial solvent was sold in six African countries.
STAT2 min read
STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re Reading About BIO’s China Challenge, Zepbound Shortages, And More
BIO's about-face in its relationship with WuXi AppTec illustrates the difficulty the biotech industry faces in dealing with an issue that is moving fast and forcefully.
STAT1 min read
Opinion: STAT+: How AI Can Help Satisfy FDA’s Drug, Device Diversity Requirements
To meet the Food and Drug Omnibus Reform Act, companies must rethink their current clinical trial strategies. Including AI and machine learning approaches can help.

Related Books & Audiobooks