I'm not so sure helmets offer much protection against concussion.
Drop an egg, the shell breaks and the yolk scrambles.
Wrap an egg in bubble wrap, drop it, the shell stays intact, but the yolk still scrambles.
Also, American football has years to go compared to rugby in regards to tackling techniques.
Football is still about launching yourself at an opponent like a human missile.
Rugby (union) is more akin to wrestling: change level, wrap around the body, take them down.
??
It's undeniable helmets work to protect the brain....... it's literally one of the main reasons they are worn ..... for safety.....
Helmets stop concussions in mining..... riding... car accidents... collisions...
Why would it suddenly not in nfl?
They definitely do help. But they create their own issues.
Leading with the head is one of the main issues tho as a lot of the " big hits " seem to be the top of the head/ helmet to bottom of helmet.
That's like the crown of the head into someone's jaw.. just doesn't happen in rugby often. Definitely not in tackles , be more a outcome of a loose ball ( happens a lot more in afl ) and that's a nasty impact.
Union I'd say the biggest threat would be neck/ spinal injuries , far more of a threat than the head knocks imo.
League I'd expect higher levels of cte.
Afl will have huge cte as well
The equipment in the nfl has created the nfl lack of tackling technique. If you gave me pads and a helmet as a young kid I would've tried to run through walls lol.
I don't think any are tougher or more dangerous than the other btw. All depends on the individual .
Like boxing some are probably more prone to Suffering issues from one big knock... but the bigger culprit seems to lean towards repeatative impacts over a course of time than one event.
Well that's what I've learnt for my own health