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The Long-Term Game: An Analysis of the Life Expectancy of National Football League Players

Author

Listed:
  • Ruud Koning

    (Department of Economics and Econometrics, University of Groningen)

  • Victor Matheson

    (Department of Economics and Accounting, College of the Holy Cross)

  • Anil Nathan

    (Department of Economics and Accounting, College of the Holy Cross)

  • James Pantano

    (Department of Economics and Accounting, College of the Holy Cross)

Abstract

The National Football League (NFL) has recently received significant negative media attention surrounding the safety of its players, revolving largely around the long term health risks of playing the sport. Recent premature deaths and instances of suicide associated with chronic traumatic encephalopathy and other football related injuries have brought the sport under increased scrutiny. By comparing mortality rates of the general population to mortality rates of players from the 1970 and 1994 NFL seasons, we test whether or not participation in football is significantly harmful to the longevity of the players. We conclude that, in total, players in the NFL have lower mortality rates than the general population. However, there is evidence that line players have higher mortality rates than other players and that those who played more games have higher mortality rates than those who played fewer games.

Suggested Citation

  • Ruud Koning & Victor Matheson & Anil Nathan & James Pantano, 2014. "The Long-Term Game: An Analysis of the Life Expectancy of National Football League Players," Working Papers 1401, International Association of Sports Economists;North American Association of Sports Economists.
    • Handle: RePEc:spe:wpaper:1401
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    File URL: http://web.holycross.edu/RePEc/spe/1401-Matheson-Nathan-Koning_NFLMortality.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Paul B. Bursik, 2012. "Behavioral Economics in the NFL," Sports Economics, Management, and Policy, in: Kevin G. Quinn (ed.), The Economics of the National Football League, edition 127, chapter 0, pages 259-276, Springer.
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      More about this item

      Keywords

      National Football League; premature deaths; survivability; injuries;
      All these keywords.

      JEL classification:

      • L83 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Sports; Gambling; Restaurants; Recreation; Tourism
      • I10 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - General
      • I19 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Other

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