Medical Malpractice Lawsuits Against Team Physicians in the National Football League Increased Between 1971 and 2020 But Remain Low Overall.

Purpose: To examine malpractice lawsuits filed by National Football League (NFL) players against team physicians to understand the factors involved with medical liability in the context of professional football.

Methods: A comprehensive review of publicly available legal databases, court records, and news archives was conducted in August 2023 to identify and analyze malpractice lawsuits involving NFL players, teams, and team physicians. Data on case demographics, physician subspecialty, allegations, and outcomes, including monetary amounts, were collected and analyzed.