Headstrong, Flagged Later: Concussions and Arrest Risk Among NFL Players
Headstrong, Flagged Later: Concussions and Arrest Risk Among NFL Players is a peer-reviewed article published in Deviant Behavior by Jackson Perry, Kimberly Kras, and Burrel Vann Jr.
The study examines whether documented NFL concussion history is associated with booking-based arrest outcomes among 6,201 NFL players who appeared in at least one regular-season game from 2010 through 2020.
The findings suggest a preliminary association between documented concussion history and booking-based arrest in unadjusted models. However, the results should be interpreted cautiously.
Official DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01639625.2026.2673400
At a Glance
Sample: 6,201 NFL players
Data Window: Concussions: 2010–2020; Arrests: 2010–2024
Main Takeaway: players with documented concussions had higher odds of arrest than those without documented concussions
