Worried about high school football safety? Here's what the stats show.
High school football is popular and fun. But after the tragic death of a 17-year-old Wisconsin football player, here are some facts to consider.
Wisconsin enthusiasts flock to Friday night high school football games, with a deep-rooted passion that extends to college games and Packer Sundays. The sport's dangers, including neurological damage, have gained recent attention following the tragic death of 17-year-old Adam Massman after a game on Aug. 20. Despite the rarity of such incidents, the National Center for Catastrophic Sports Injury Research reports that five high school and middle school players died in 2025, a significant decrease from 2006 to 2015.
Out of 39 nonfatal catastrophic football injuries in 2025, 31 occurred in middle- and high-school players. Long-term effects of repeated head injuries, such as Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), are also a concern, with one in four recent NFL players dying with the disease. Limiting full-contact practices and promoting safer alternatives like flag football can help reduce injuries. Safety should remain a priority for coaches, players, and families.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
