NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement
Players’ Rights To Medical Care and Treatment
Section 17(d)NFL Game Concussion Protocol Enforcement
The prevention, diagnosis and management of concussion is important to the National Football League, its member clubs, the players, and the NFL Players Association. As required by this Article, the NFL Management Council, on behalf of the NFL, and the NFLPA, through their respective medical advisory committees, have developed a protocol to address the in-game evaluation and diagnosis of potential concussions, and the subsequent management and treatment of players diagnosed with concussions, entitled the NFL Game Day Protocols Regarding the Evaluation and Management of Concussion (“NFL Game Concussion Protocol”), which is incorporated by reference into Section 17 of this Article and Appendix W attached hereto. The NFL Game Concussion Protocol is a necessary component of player medical care in the NFL and is therefore deemed mandatory by the Parties. Pursuant to the joint and continuing obligations set forth in this Article, the Parties have agreed to evaluate and address the potential deviations from the NFL Game Concussion Protocol, as set forth below:
NFL Players: The Parties have determined that club medical teams must apply each step of the NFL Game Concussion Evaluation and Management Protocol when evaluating an NFL player for a potential concussion during an NFL game. The Parties also recognize that player participation and cooperation is essential to the diagnosis and management of this injury. To that end, the Parties shall jointly develop education and messaging to be shared with players on a regular basis, including, but not limited to, the importance of (i) reporting concussion symptoms and (ii) cooperating with team medical staffs in all areas of concussion care. For purposes of enforcement, if an NFL player interferes with the medical staff’s ability to perform its duties under the Protocols, such interference shall be considered by the Parties or the Impartial Arbitrator as a mitigating factor and may serve as an affirmative defense to discipline under Section 4 (c) above.