Former Detroit Lion Casey Fitzsimmons talks about NFL technology to reduce concussions

Helena – On December 6, 2009, the Detroit Lions faced off against the Cincinnati Bengals. Down 23-7, with 8:05 left in the game, tight end Casey Fitzsimmons caught a pass from rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford.

His helmet flew off before his head hit the grass.

“I had a special helmet and a chin strap and I was wearing a mouth guard because of my shock,” Fitzsimmons said. “I took all the precautions and had a special chin strap.”

Watch MTN’s full interview with Casey FitzSimons

Former Detroit Lions running back Casey FitzSimmons discusses new NFL technology to reduce concussions.

Despite taking every precaution to avoid head injury, the play ended FitzSimmons’ career and changed his life forever. Another shock piled on top of the head injury he suffered during his football career.

“I was in a bad place. And to be honest with you, I went pretty crazy and went off the rails for a few years,” he said.

Since the incident, FitzSimmons — a Chester native and former Carroll College standout — has been an advocate for protecting the football player’s mind.

“People were doing things related to mental (injury) and that wasn’t them,” he said. “People were getting killed. People were assaulting their spouses, and doing things out of character for them. And when that happened, it was time to speak up.

Now to protect himself, FitzSimmons is only in situations where he can control himself.

“The desire to improve and try to see beyond that before it’s too late. Before you end your life or descend into addiction,” FitzSimmons said. “And then time passes, or you commit a crime and spend time in prison. And trying to stay away from those things and control the environment. It is very important for me to maintain mental stability. “

FitzSimmons remembers his first concussion, in a preseason game his rookie year against the Cleveland Browns. Now, the NFL requires caps for all offensive linemen, defensive linemen, linebackers and tight ends during the first 14 preseason practices.

“So keeper caps are good. In the situation I’ve been in, I think it’s a plus whenever you’re taking a risk and keeping guys on the field for longer contact and brain damage is key. You’ve still got to play on Sunday, so it doesn’t cut it, does it? And they’re still going to be concussed. But if you can reduce the long-term risk, I think it’s great. And I think any step forward and protecting the brain is very important because you only get one brain, and once the damage is done, then you have to live with it and live with it. You have to learn how to deal with the handicaps that come with it.

According to the NFL, Guardian Caps reduce the impact by at least 10%, at least 20% if both sides wear them. Although the NFL is happy to add to the issue, he believes that more can be done at the youth level.

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“My biggest concern is youth football. These five- to eight-year-old children who have been playing football, these people are committing a crime, killing someone, killing themselves or committing a serious crime. “And I think that’s something that parents really need to evaluate. There’s scientific evidence that, before puberty, these kids are playing football, and they’re missing coaching or getting repetitive training in hitting. It doesn’t look like when they’re 12, 13, 14 years old, It’s when they turn 25, 26, 27, 28. And I think that’s what people should do.

As of 2011 CDCYouth tackle football athletes had approximately 18 times more head impacts per game than flag football athletes and 19 times more head impacts per game, with seven head impacts per game and an average of 13 impacts per game.

“I think the small fry football program that has done so much for so many people in this community probably needs to be re-evaluated in my opinion. I don’t think it needs to. I played junior high, then I played senior high school. And so a lot of people don’t go pro. But with sports There is a lot that I think they should be involved with.

Above all, FitzSimmons believes in considering life’s risks and rewards, and encourages athletes to do the same.

“You have to decide if you’re willing to pay that price. And I think with a 10% reduction, if 10 out of 100 people have seizures, I think. [Guardian Caps] It will benefit them,” he said. “And I think the long-term effects are that people who come out after playing will have the opportunity to get a second job.”

The most surprising thing about FitzSimmons’ story? He would do it all over again.

“I didn’t want to retire. And I didn’t want to accept the fact that maybe something was wrong. When you get to the NFL level or any professional sport and the work and time and effort you put in to get there, you spend the rest of your time trying to stay there,” he said. “I’m very competitive, and I never wanted to walk away from it, I was forced to. And people ask me today, do you still do this? And I definitely say. Because winning and losing is up to me. Below my family and my faith, I would say the most important thing in life is winning and losing.