I think the equipment has helped make the game safer but they also have made a lot of rules to protect the players (no hits to the head, you cannot do anything to the QB "thanks to Tom Brady," big penalties for hitting players who are out of bounds, etc.). I think injuries are always going to happen no matter what kind of equipment you develop....especially knee injuries, but medical care is 100% better then what it used to be.....Joe Namath's career would have lasted a lot longer had they had the knee surgery techniques they have today. If you injure your head/brain though that's not something that is fixable.
