This piece is part of The Athletic’s annual NFL anonymous player survey, covering a range of topics around the league.

Head injuries and the NFL’s concussion protocol are still polarizing topics among NFL players. More than a few were reluctant to engage in a discussion, even as part of our annual anonymous player survey. For instance, when asked if he had ever tried to hide concussion symptoms, one AFC offensive player responded he had not, before adding “and if I did, I wouldn’t disclose it to you.”

Data on concussions from the 2025 season is not yet available, but according to the NFL, concussions decreased 17 percent from 2023 to 2024, a 12 percent drop compared to the 2021 through 2023 seasons. As far as identifying concussions, league doctors “continue to evaluate 3-4 players for every concussion diagnosis.”

Players who answered our questions offered a wide range of thoughts.

“Yes, I’ve hid symptoms,” said an AFC offensive player who included that he did not regret doing so. “It’s all in your head. Concussions are all in your head.”

A different AFC offensive player: “Sometimes you go lights-out for a second. You just have to play it off. Get in the huddle.”

Conversely, an NFC offensive player: “Guys are stupid if they do that. We don’t mess with brains.”

And an NFC defensive player: “Hell no. I would never do that. If my s— isn’t feeling good, I’ll tell you and (leave) the game.”

There were more nuanced takes.

“For sure (I’ve tried to hide concussion symptoms),” said an NFC defensive player. “Football is about availability more than ability. You want to be available. You can hide certain symptoms and you’re going to hide whatever you can to be out there. I know it’s shameful to say.”

An AFC offensive player: “I think there’s a gray area with guys who know they got their bell rung or just want to stay in and don’t want to see the doctor versus actually trying to hide symptoms. I think even the ‘toughest’ guys know how brutal this game is and don’t want to add extra risk. I think once you’re in the league for a few years, you learn more about the fine line between ‘OK, I can play through this,’ and ‘Oh, s—, I’m really hurt.’ That goes for a back injury or a concussion.”

And a different NFC defensive player: “I personally haven’t (tried to hide concussion symptoms) in the League. I think there are levels to concussions. You feel a little dizzy and you don’t know if it’s a concussion or not, and you’re trying not to alarm anybody. But I feel like if it’s bad enough, you should let somebody know.”

Our poll results only reflect players who said they tried to hide concussion symptoms since coming into the NFL. If the results included players who said they did so at a lower level of football, such as high school or college, then 26 percent of our respondents admitted to hiding concussion symptoms at some point in their football past.

Of those who said they have hidden concussion symptoms and answered a follow-up question about whether they regretted it: Eight said they had no regrets, while one said he did.