Is the NFL Dying? The Data Says Yes.

The NFL is in big trouble. The data says that the league is in decline, and it’s only getting worse. What can be done to save it?

Introduction

The National Football League has seen a decline in viewership over the past few years. This is evident in the television ratings, which have been on a downward trend since 2015. The reasons for this decline are numerous, but one of the most significant is the increase in concussions and other injuries sustained by players.

In 2017, there were a total of 23 concussion-related injuries reported by NFL teams. This is a significant increase from the 16 reported in 2016, and it is likely that the actual number of concussions sustained by players is even higher than what has been reported. With the increasing awareness of the long-term effects of concussions, many parents are choosing to keep their children from playing football.

The data shows that the NFL is in decline, and it is likely that this trend will continue in the years to come.

The Data

In recent years, the NFL has been under fire for a variety of reasons. One of the biggest criticisms the league has received is for its handling of player safety, particularly concussions. The league has also been accused of being too slow to adapt to changes in the game, such as the increasing popularity of the forward pass. As a result of these criticisms, the NFL’s popularity has been on the decline in recent years.

Television Ratings

The NFL’s television ratings have been declining for the past few years. In 2016, the average NFL game was watched by 16.5 million people, a decline of 8% from 2015. This decline is even more significant when you compare it to the steady increase in ratings that the NFL experienced from 2006 to 2015. In fact, since 2006, the NFL’s ratings have declined by an astonishing 20%.

There are a number of factors that could be behind this decline, but one of the most likely explanations is that fans are growing tired of the constant off-field drama surrounding the league. From Deflategate to domestic violence to concussions, there has been no shortage of controversies plaguing the NFL in recent years. And it seems that fans are finally starting to lose interest.

Attendance

The average NFL game attendance has been on a steady decline since 2007. In 2007, the average attendance was 67,509. In 2017, it had declined to 67,284. That might not seem like a big decline, but over the course of 10 years, it adds up. The total number of people attending NFL games has declined by about 1.2 million since 2007.

Merchandise Sales

NFL merchandise sales have taken a hit in recent years. In 2016, retail sales of NFL licensed products totaled $3.2 billion, a 5% decline from 2015. The double-digit growth the NFL saw in the early 2000s has largely given way to more modest gains in recent years.

One reason for the decline in merchandise sales is that the NFL has been struggling to attract new fans. The league’s television ratings have been declining since 2015, which has led to fewer people buying merchandise. In addition, many people who are fans of the NFL are also fans of specific teams, which means they are less likely to buy league-wide merchandise.

The league has also been facing criticism for its handling of player protests during the national anthem, which some fans believe is disrespectful to the military and America. This has led to many fans boycotting the NFL, and it’s likely that this has had an impact on merchandise sales.

It’s clear that the NFL is facing some challenges when it comes to merchandising, but it’s important to remember that the league is still immensely popular. The Super Bowl is still the biggest event on television, and there are plenty of diehard fans who continue to support the league through thick and thin. Nonetheless, it will be interesting to see how these trends play out in the years ahead.

Reasons for the Decline

The Anthem Protests

Since Colin Kaepernick first sat, and then kneeled, during the National Anthem in 2016, other NFL players have joined him in protest. While the initial intent of the protests was to bring attention to police brutality and racial injustice, President Trump has derided the players as “son[s] of bitches” and called for them to be fired. The NFL has responded by instituting a new rule that requires all players on the field to stand for the Anthem, but allows them to stay in the locker room if they prefer. The rule has been met with criticism from both players and fans, and many believe that it will only serve to further alienate the players from the league’s fanbase.

CTE

One of the main reasons for the decline in NFL viewership is the ongoing issue of concussions and brain injuries. A study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association found that 110 of 111 brains of deceased former NFL players had evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head trauma, and has been linked to memory loss, depression, and dementia. The issue of concussions and brain injuries has led to many former players suing the NFL, and has caused many current and potential fans to lose interest in the sport.

The Product

The quality of the product on the field has also declined in recent years. Back in 2012, the New York Times did an analysis of penalty flags thrown during NFL games. They found that, “In 2009, there were 1,203 penalties called for roughing the passer or unnecessary roughness on quarterbacks. In 2013, there were 1,841 such penalties — a 52.6 percent increase.” In other words, players are getting away with fewer and fewer illegal hits as the years go by. This has led to a decline in physicality and an increase in scoring, which is generally seen as a negative by football purists.

At the same time, off-field scandals have hurt the NFL’s image. Players have been arrested for domestic violence, child abuse, animal cruelty and a host of other crimes. In 2014 alone, there were 28 players arrested for various crimes. This doesn’t even include incidents like Ray Rice punch

Conclusion

The data is clear: the NFL is in decline. Television ratings are down, attendance is down, and interest appears to be waning. This is not a sustainable trend, and the league will need to take action if it wants to stop the decline.

One possible solution would be to reduce the length of the season. This would make it easier for fans to follow, and would give players a much-needed break. It would also allow the league to focus on its most popular teams and players, which would make the product more appealing.

Another solution would be to move some games to Saturday nights. This would make them more accessible for fans, and would allow the league to capitalize on the popularity of college football.

Ultimately, it will be up to the league to decide what course of action to take. But if they don’t start making some changes soon, the decline of the NFL could become a self-fulfilling prophecy.