Steelers QB Justin Fields (2) - Brett Davis/Imagn Images
Mike Tomlin is the longest-tenured head coach in the NFL currently. He’s old-school like that. Old school enough to not call his own quarterback out after he sustains a spine scrambler. Justin Fields’ head bounced around like a joystick, and Tomlin would have been just fine if his QB kept playing. That is why we have the independent spotters and neurologists on staff to protect players from themselves and their team.
The Scene Of The Crime
In the third quarter, Justin Fields got his spine scrambled in what is traditionally known as a ‘de-cleater.’ There wasn’t an angle that Field’s head didn’t bounce, and the fans could feel the whiplash through the TV. He had his feet completely taken out from underneath him as his brain did the hokey-pokey.
Justin Fields AND Mike Tomlin were more than willing to play through the hit. Tomlin could have chosen to step in, but instead he watched his QB attempt to keep playing. It was highly unusual because a referee came to Fields and discussed something, leaving the Steeler QB in the huddle. The ‘red hat’ was shown speaking into his headset, and the referee returned and insisted Fields leave. It’s unclear why they needed such a hoopla to take a player out after a clearly gnarly hit.
A Questionable Concussion Protocol Execution
The independent spotter did his part in witnessing a hard hit and requesting for the player to be evaluated for a concussion. It’s unclear why there was so much discourse between the referees and Fields. Tomlin’s ‘poker face’ made it clear that he wasn’t going to take Fields out.
The young man did leave the game; he had no choice and was evaluated in the blue tent for a concussion. He was out for two very short plays and was back on the gridiron before we knew it. There was no way that they took the time to do what should at least be a five-minute process. Before we even knew it, Fields was back with god knows what holding him up after a hit like that.
Justin Fields At Risk
Justin Fields is at risk for concussions and more as long as he plays under a head coach; that is fine with him playing after a hit like that. Imagine this: Fields never got called off the field, played on, and sustained another ‘non-concussive’ hit again. Second Impact Syndrome (SID) can be deadly. This condition is caused by someone sustaining multiple concussions before the player recovered from the first one. As if long-term neurological decline from a single concussion isn’t scary enough.
What you might not hear from a team medical doctor is that once you sustain a concussion, you are always more at risk for sustaining another one, particularly in the first year. It takes progressively less force each time. Although Fields has never had an identified concussion, that stat is laughable. Particularly after this 2023 incident.
Conclusion
The Justin Fields incident is a perfect example of why the concussion protocol is so important. A player (and his coach) cannot be expected to override their desire to play (and win) and admit when they’re injured with an invisible injury. This was hardly an example of a well-executed concussion protocol due to the short time Fields was off the field, but it is a lesson. A player will get right back up and play through the pain, and his coach will look on with a poker face. For examples of other spine scramblers over the years, read about them here.
