The number of concussions sustained by NFL players fell to historic lows this season. The football league released its findings regarding player safety developments on Thursday, which showed improvements in helping to prevent these traumatic brain injuries to players. 

The damage concussions have caused former NFL players came to light in the 2000s after several former high-profile NFL players committed suicide. Studies of the brain tissue of those players revealed a condition called chronic traumatic encephalopathy, more commonly referred to as CTE. The NFL was sued by former players who suffered such injuries, and in 2015, the league reached a class-action settlement with players. The football league vowed to commit to increasing player protections to help prevent concussions.