Concussion Expert and Football Father Discusses Why He Values Teamwork Over Zero-Risk

Super Bowl week puts player safety in the spotlight, and Jonathan Lifshitz, Ph.D., a neuroscientist and University of Michigan Concussion Center professor of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, is watching with both research and family experience. He leads an international neurotrauma research team at U-M Health and the VA Ann Arbor studying head injuries across the spectrum. Lifshitz recently saw his middle son win the NCAA Division 3 Football National Championship in early January with the University of Wisconsin–River Falls. He argues his family has prioritized teamwork and development over “zero-risk,” emphasizing protective equipment, coach education, and shared responsibility to recognize and respond to injuries.