The technique called “Spearing”, or using your head in football tackling, caused serious problems in the late 1960’s. Currently the NFL is experiencing a rash of similar frightening injuries. Sixty years later.

Some say injury problems will doom football.

I wrote this many years ago:

” Sports can break your heart and/or your neck. About the time schools consoli-
dated, a football tackling technique called “spearing” became popular. And it was

lethal. During this “evolving” time several kids were killed or paralyzed. Spearing
was often the villain. Any young football coach should read O. Charles Olsen’s
small book called “The Prevention of Football Injuries.” Olsen’s theory is centered
on E = 1⁄2 mv2 ( 1972 ).

Or Energy = one half mass times velocity squared. Or, the players are

faster, stronger, and the hitting is harder.

When schools integrated the smaller kids were eliminated from football. Big-
ger kids, many African American, weight training programs, and steroids in some

instances, produced MANY dangerous hits.”

Some said :…you can’t take the head out of football!”

Or “…you can’t change the rules and still have football fans will support”.

My guess is that football’s survival depends on the players themselves.