Employees of the company tasked with rapidly personalizing jerseys for each first-round NFL draft pick as they are announced don’t need to travel very far for this year’s player selections in Detroit ST. CLAIR SHORES, Mich. -- Employees of the company tasked each year with rapidly personalizing jerseys for each first-round NFL draft pick as they are announced don’t need to travel very far for this year’s player selections in Detroit. STAHLS’ headquarters in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, sits 17 miles (27 kilometers) from the stage where NFL commissioner Roger Goodell will inform players — and the world — that they have been selected by an NFL franchise. “The draft coming back to Detroit is extra special for us,” said Brent Kisha, the company’s vice president of strategic sales. The STAHLS’ team has under two minutes, from the moment each pick is made until Goodell greets him, to personalize the jerseys backstage in the Nike jersey room at the NFL Draft Theater. The draft gets underway Thursday at Campus Martius Park downtown. It marks the 13th year the apparel decoration technology, software and equipment manufacturer has worked behind the scenes at the draft. STAHLS’ took on heat-pressing duties in 2012, quickly affixing top pick Andrew Luck’s surname to an Indianapolis Colts jersey in New York. Since then, the company’s team has traveled to drafts held in Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas, Nashville, Cleveland, Las Vegas, Kansas City and now its hometown. “Historically, the jerseys only had a ‘No. 1,’ so putting a person's name on it was like magic to the fans,” Kisha said Monday. "'Wow, this pick comes in, and we have literally less than two minutes to put the name on the back of the jersey. How do you do it?' “The heat press is the secret sauce that enables us to be able to react to the actual pick itself,” he said. That “secret sauce” is a Hotronix Fusion IQ heat press, a machine that features a high-resolution touch screen controller and is used by custom apparel businesses. STAHLS' personalizes two jerseys for each draft pick, including one handed to the player onstage and another that is used as part of his rookie playing card pack. STAHLS’ creates nameplates for every potential in-person first-round draftee in all 32 NFL teams' fonts and colors. And it will have eight jerseys per team on hand, in case there are day-of trades. The company was born in the garage of A.C. Stahl and his wife, Ethel, in 1932. Initially known as Commercial Art Products, STAHLS’ now is a licensee and supplier to the NFL, NBA, NHL and MLB. The privately-held company has about 1,000 employees in North America, most of whom are based in Michigan. Four, including Kisha, will be on name-affixing duty come Thursday. “It sounds like, ‘Oh, man, that’s cool.' And it is really cool. I'm very honored that I've been able to do it for Nike and the team for many years,” Kisha said. “But every year, in the beginning, until that first jersey goes on the stage, you've got butterflies.”

In Thursday night’s NFL game between the Miami Dolphins and Buffalo Bills, Miami’s $212m quarterback Tua Tagovailoa [suffered his fourth documented concussion](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/sep/12/tua-tagovailoa-concussion-dolphins-bills-game), and third since joining the NFL, after colliding with defensive back Damar Hamlin, who [himself nearly died in a game](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jan/06/who-won-the-game-nfl-star-damar-hamlin-wakes-after-on-field-collapse) less than two years ago. The reactions from inside the football world were immediate and telling. * [Dez Bryant](https://x.com/DezBryant/status/1834416864006463840), longtime Dallas Cowboys wide receiver: “That’s it … NFL go ahead and do the right thing. Tua has had entirely way too many concussions. He need to retire for his longevity health concerns.” * [Shannon Sharpe](https://x.com/ShannonSharpe/status/1834420668349513880): three-time Super Bowl champion turned pundit: “Really hope Tua is ok, but he’s gotta seriously think about shutting it \[down\]. I \[hate\] saying this. His concussions are getting worse and worse and he’s a young man with his entire life ahead of him.” * [Antonio Bryant](https://x.com/AB84/status/1834426680384893336), former All-Pro wide receiver: “In all seriousness Tua may want to rethink playing football in the future depending on severity. Concussions not something to mess with.” * [Robert Griffin III](https://x.com/RGIII/status/1834430065699893523), Heisman trophy winner: “Really just praying for Tua’s long term health. Another concussion puts him at 3 officially and countless other scares. Think of the person not just the player.” But as well-intentioned as those pleas are, they should not be the predominant takeaway from this event. The fact we all need to confront in the aftermath of yet another spectacle of egregious harm is that this sport is profoundly and irredeemably unsafe. It has already [killed](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/aug/29/high-school-football-deaths-public-health-crisis) or transformed the lives of far too many participants. There is no plausible deniability about the consequences. This is not the time to deploy personal responsibility narratives around what the right ‘choice’ is for Tua Tagovailoa, who seven weeks ago [signed a team-record contract extension](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jul/26/tua-tagovailoa-agrees-to-team-record-212m-contract-extension-with-dolphins). He is currently simply the most visible representation of the harm this sport inflicts on everyone who participates. [Every 2.6 years](https://www.bu.edu/articles/2019/cte-football/) of participation in tackle football doubles the chances of contracting CTE and kids start playing this sport at five years old. Concussions are the most extreme manifestation of the problem, but they are not the only one. For members of the offensive and defensive lines especially, constant head contact is an inextricable part of the game as it is currently conceived, and it is that contact that leads to brain deterioration. Former John ‘Jabo’ Burrow was once in [exactly this position](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/jun/21/i-started-crying-i-lost-my-breath-the-long-toll-of-concussions-in-college-football) as a power five college football player who suffered traumatic head injury in the sport that he couldn’t shake. Like others who would more famously follow in his footsteps, like [Chris Borland](https://theendofsport.podbean.com/e/episode-93-hard-truths-about-football-with-chris-borland/) and [Andrew Luck](https://www.freep.com/story/opinion/contributors/2019/08/31/fans-should-understand-andrew-lucks-decision/2163099001/), Burrow made the difficult decision to retire from a sport he loved. “My opinion is the sport is specifically designed for these sorts of things to happen,” Burrow told us in response to Tagovailoa’s injury. “Violence and inflicting physical trauma is a necessary step to successfully move the ball further down the field or to keep the other team from doing so. We have accepted that. It is bare-knuckle boxing that is socially acceptable for children to participate in. I see videos of seven-year-olds taking and delivering similar hits being lauded, but if they were fist fighting in an organized bare-knuckle organization at the same age people would be arrested. I don’t see much difference between the two sports anymore.” He added: “Violence and trauma is necessary for participating in the game, but the natural outcome of those things is brain trauma and risk of death. I just hope Tua can be ok. It makes me very sad for him. Dtamar Hamlin [had some comments](https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5764639/2024/09/13/damar-hamlin-tua-tagovailoa-concussion-bills-dolphins/) I read on using counseling to help process his trauma in order to get back to a place where he feels safe being on the field. That makes me sad too, but for different reasons. “The game is traumatic.” [](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/sep/13/tua-tagovailoa-concussion-reaction-retirement-nfl-players#img-2) Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa suffered his fourth documented concussion on Thursday night. Photograph: Rebecca Blackwell/AP Similarly, in research for our forthcoming book [The End of College Football: On the Human Costs of an All-American Game](https://uncpress.org/book/9781469683461/the-end-of-college-football/), we spoke to 25 former big-time college football players anonymously about their experiences in the sport. Traumatic head injury was a persistent theme in those discussions. Although formally diagnosed concussions are often the focus of the discourse around the problem in the sport, the truth is that most of the traumatic brain injury, concussive or subconcussive, that occurs in tackle football is never formally reported. One former player told us, “We had maybe 30-ish padded practices in 28 days … you hit your head in those four weeks, thousands of times at a G-force of at least 20 Gs. You know it experientially, but you don’t know the science behind it. So like, ‘camp fog’ or ‘camp brain’ was something we’d discuss. And it was just so normal. I was never diagnosed with a concussion. There’s a handful of times where I was concussed. And my sophomore year, I was … throwing up on the sidelines. And \[linebackers’ coach\] looked at me, and said, ‘You good?’ And he wasn’t asking, he was telling me.” As that example reveals, a huge part of the problem is that head injury continues not to be taken sufficiently seriously by those in positions of authority in the sport on the coaching side. Another player explained, “They scare you into not reporting your injuries, especially concussions, because they treat you even worse as a person, because they just think you’re faking it.” Still a third said, “It was light bullying … snarky comments. Like, ‘Oh, it looks like you’re fine. You’re moving fine, you could get out there.’ Or, ‘You’re not practicing today?’ alluding towards, like, ‘You need to get your ass out there.’” It is the players who must live with the consequences, not the coaches. One explained that the scariest part for him is that he does not even “know \[the\] price that I paid in terms of cognitive ability, in terms of how many concussions did I play through, how many times did I have a concussion and didn’t report it?” Another says he suffers “from panic disorder related to probably all the subconcussive blows.” The fact that people are worried about the health and wellbeing of Tua Tagovailoa is only a good thing. We need to be humane towards the athletes whose sacrificial labor sustains our emotional investments in sports fandom, and expressing fear on his behalf – much as people did after watching Damar Hamilin lie on the field after his heart stopped – is precisely the appropriate response. But we cannot fool ourselves into thinking Tagovailoa or Hamlin are and tragic rare exceptions. They are simply the visible consequences of the toll that tackle football takes on all who participate. “I feel like there’s a good chance that I will have CTE,” a player told us. “Especially if I kept playing, it’ll probably be guaranteed. “But I won’t find out until I die, which isn’t comforting at all.” Nor should it be, for any of us.

When airports, streets or buildings are named to honor an individual it is typically thanks to a long record of accomplishment. Perhaps the Jacksonville Jaguars were trying to manifest greatness by temporarily rebranding their stadium around Trevor Lawerence over the weekend, but it was a move destined to be ridiculed. There were few smiles at TrEverBank Stadium on Sunday (not the Jags’ first [weird attempt at a rebrand of Lawrence](https://x.com/Jaguars/status/1678825576205807619)) as a sloppy Jacksonville [fell to the Cleveland Browns 18-13](https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore/_/gameId/401671635). They are now are in trouble at 0-2. “We suck right now,” Lawrence said (correctly) during his postgame press conference, referencing his offense. “I’ve got to play better. I’m the leader of the offense. It’s on me. The wideouts have to play better. The line has to play better. The running backs have to play better. The coaching has to be better.” Lawrence is right to toss blame around but it really does start with the coaching. The head coach, Doug Pederson, and the offensive coordinator, Press Taylor, called such a bland playbook that Lawrence finished the first half with 16 passing yards. Credit to the Browns’ stifling defense but 16 passing yards in a half for a team helmed by Lawrence with his array of weapons should not be possible. The mistakes flowed from start to finish. It took eons for Pederson and Press to get plays into Lawrence. And twice Pederson, who should be far more organized as a veteran coach, had to burn a time out to avoid the delay of game flag. Jacksonville also lost 10 seconds when they were flagged for an illegal shift with 48 seconds remaining from their own 33. That left them with a first and 15 from their own 39. Not that Lawrence has been great this season. In the first two weeks of the new campaign, Lawrence has had way too many misfires for someone once labeled a “generational talent.” The No 1 overall pick in the 2021 draft had his moments against the Browns, including [a 66-yard strike to Brian Thomas](https://www.jaguars.com/video/can-t-miss-play-lawrence-unloads-66-yard-launch-to-brian-thomas-jr-for-stellar-catch) that led to Jacksonville’s only touchdown, and a career-long 33-yard run on third and long that led to a field goal. And he avoided turning the ball over despite poor pass protection. He ended the day with 220 passing yards but only completed 14 of his 30 pass attempts, most of them short distances, was sacked four times, one of them a safety, and lost for the seventh time in eight games. The glimpses of potential greatness are there – if anything they make his stumbles all the more frustrating – but his career has been about glimpses rather than long periods of outstanding play for too long. In Lawrence’s first three seasons in the [NFL](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/nfl) he has ranked 28th, 17th and 17th in QBR out of qualified quarterbacks. Those numbers would pass the smell test for a few NFL franchises, and the postseason run in 2022 was a nice feather for a historically dreadful franchise. But Lawrence was anointed the next Andrew Luck. The next Peyton Manning. Lawrence was supposed to be one of the league’s outstanding players. Instead, he has been … fine. Jacksonville showed their continued belief in Lawrence in June when they gave him a [five-year, $275m extension](https://www.spotrac.com/nfl/player/_/id/72380/trevor-lawrence). But the Jags failed to surround their quarterback with much-needed protection, instead investing more on the defense. One key addition, the center Mitch Morse – signed in free agency – has been mediocre as evidenced by his role in the [game-clinching safety](https://x.com/clayharbs82/status/1835409011836944791) for the Browns. Despite the inherent gifts Lawrence possesses – his quick release and leadership – they’re not nearly enough to single-handedly morph a franchise into a perennial contender, as we have seen from the likes of Tom Brady, Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes. They are most definitely not enough to be worthy of renaming the franchise’s home. **MVP of the week** ------------------- [](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/sep/16/jacksonville-jaguars-trevor-lawrence-quarterback-nfl-stadium-rebrand#img-2) Kyler Murray recorded a perfect passer rating on Sunday. Photograph: Ross D Franklin/AP **Kyler Murray, quarterback, Arizona Cardinals.** Speaking of former No 1 overall picks living up to their potential … Murray was sensational in [Arizona’s 41-10 trouncing of the Los Angeles Rams](https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore/_/gameId/401671754). Muray was dripping with style points as he tossed three touchdowns, passed for 266 yards, and added 59 yards on the ground. He answered Marvin Harrison Jr fantasy owners’ calls and connected with the rookie wideout for two long touchdowns. But it was Murray’s 18-yard touchdown strike to Elijah Higgins after [escaping pressure](https://x.com/NFL/status/1835420436047503706) on a third and five that grabbed the attention on an electrifying afternoon [that saw him record a perfect passer rating](https://www.sportingnews.com/au/nfl/news/nfl-quarterbacks-perfect-qb-rating-kyler-murray-list-rams/535bf25c0c7521454d8cfb96#:~:text=Murray%20is%20the%2065th%20quarterback,perfect%20game%20in%20five%20years.). **Stat of the week** -------------------- **Six.** The New Orleans Saints scored touchdowns on their first six drives in [a 44-19 beat down of Dallas](https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore/_/gameId/401671709). Derek Carr and Alvin Kamara put on a clinic in how to execute Klint Kubiak’s shrewd offense. Carr’s deep strikes were beauties, including a 70-yard touchdown dart to Rashid Shaheed. Kamara dominated the outside run, executed his screens and found the endzone four times. The Saints’ o-line gave Carr plenty of time. Last week’s 40+ point performance came with a side of skepticism given that it was against the lowly Carolina Panthers. But now that the Saints have sliced up Micah Parsons and the Cowboys’ defense, they must be taken seriously as an early contender. [](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/sep/16/jacksonville-jaguars-trevor-lawrence-quarterback-nfl-stadium-rebrand#img-3) Alvin Kamara tore apart the Cowboys on Sunday. Photograph: Gerald Herbert/AP As for Dallas, their red zone woes continued, and Dak Prescott added two interceptions. They were simply outcoached and outplayed. **Video of the week** --------------------- Will Levis is just begging us to have a Boneheaded Play of the Week category. Until then, you’ll just have to relish his latest flop in this space. [skip past newsletter promotion](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/sep/16/jacksonville-jaguars-trevor-lawrence-quarterback-nfl-stadium-rebrand#EmailSignup-skip-link-21) Sign up to Soccer with Jonathan Wilson Jonathan Wilson brings expert analysis on the biggest stories from European soccer **Privacy Notice:** Newsletters may contain info about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. For more information see our [Privacy Policy](https://www.theguardian.com/help/privacy-policy). We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google [Privacy Policy](https://policies.google.com/privacy) and [Terms of Service](https://policies.google.com/terms) apply. after newsletter promotion You would think that Levis would have learned his lesson after tossing the game-losing interception to Chicago from his knees in Week 1, but alas. The Titans head coach, Brian Callahan, said what we all were thinking. **Elsewhere around the league** ------------------------------- There are regular losses. Then there are piercing, frustrating losses that will linger. Like the Cincinnati Bengals being on the brink of topping the Kansas City Chiefs on the road before giving away the game with stupid penalties and mistakes. The last flag was a 29-yard pass interference on the Bengals safety Daijahn Anthony in the final minute to set up Harrison Butker’s 51-yard game winner in a contest [that ended 26-25](https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore/_/gameId/401671670). Joe Burrow, who outplayed Mahomes, was livid for much of the second-half and in the game’s aftermath. Burrow had to restrain Ja’Marr Chase after he got in an official’s face for a non-call and was dinged with a 15-yard unsportsmanlike conduct. The Bengals also missed an extra-point in a game decided by the finest of margins. It was another Bengals-Chiefs classic, and another Cincy would love to do over. [](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/sep/16/jacksonville-jaguars-trevor-lawrence-quarterback-nfl-stadium-rebrand#img-4) Joe Burrow was left to rue another frustrating defeat to the Chiefs. Photograph: Jay Biggerstaff/USA Today Sports Calling this one Sam Darnold’s revenge game may be a stretch, but he had to be smiling after [a 23-17 upset of the San Francisco 49ers](https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore/_/gameId/401671645), his most recent former team. Darnold mostly shone in an efficient outing, going 17-for-26 for 268 yards and two touchdowns. His [97-yard Darnold Dot to Justin Jefferson](https://x.com/TomPelissero/status/1835376334651961454) set the tone for the game. But it was Brian Flores’s stifling defense that stymied the defending NFC champions. Pity poor Justin Skule, who had the unenviable task of trying to contain the Detroit Lions’ Aidan Hutchinson on Sunday. [Skule’s Bucs won the war 20-16](https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore/_/gameId/401671721) but Hutchinson undeniably won the battles, ending the game with 4.5 sacks. Sunday was also Hutchinson’s fourth straight game with a sack, tying the longest streak by a Lions player since sacks became an official stat in 1982, per ESPN Stats & Info. Baker Mayfield put in another gutsy performance and Tampa now stand at 2-0. Sometimes a QB neglects to throw the ball on third down for fear of losing field position or throwing a pick under pressure. But the Packers quarterback Malik Willis added a new excuse. Over to the Packers head coach Matt LaFleur: “I asked Malik why he didn’t throw the ball on that third down, [he told me Josh threw up on the ball](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2024/sep/15/gutsy-play-packers-qb-malik-willis-declines-to-pass-after-teammate-vomits-on-ball).” The Josh in question is the center Josh Myers, and for those that enjoy puke-related puns, [Packers social media](https://x.com/packers/status/1835421457653871010) is the place to be. Harbaugh brothers update: Jim’s Chargers [are off to a 2-0 start](https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore/_/gameId/401671652), while John’s Ravens [have started 0-2](https://www.espn.com/nfl/boxscore/_/gameId/401671624). Just as we all predicted. After his much-ballyhooed TV [debut was a flop](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/article/2024/sep/08/tom-brady-fox-tv-analyst-nfl-football), Tom Brady was back in the broadcast booth for the Saints’ clubbing of the Cowboys. In his first outing, Brady was a cliche-riddled mess. His nerves seeped through the screen and his cadence was off. But in one week, Brady turned it around. There were still plenty of cliches and stumbles, but Brady also offered real insight, with Fox letting him lean into his comfort zone: football nerdery. He was confident, comfortable and, at times, even appeared to be having fun. He may never eclipse Greg Olsen as the best Fox has to offer – his chemistry with co-commentator Kevin Burkhardt is still lacking – but it is typical of maniacally competitive Brady to turn in his strongest performance after dropping a dud the previous week.

Andrew Luck is returning to Stanford in hopes of turning around a struggling football program that he once helped become a national power. Athletic director Bernard Muir announced Saturday that Luck has been hired as the general manager of the Stanford football team, tasked with overseeing all aspects of the program that just finished a 3-9 season under coach Troy Taylor. [ The science behind Andrew Luck’s shock NFL farewell ](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/aug/26/andrew-luck-retirement-injuries-science) “I am a product of this university, of Nerd Nation; I love this place,” Luck said. “I believe deeply in Stanford’s unique approach to athletics and academics and the opportunity to help drive our program back to the top. Coach Taylor has the team pointed in the right direction, and I cannot wait to work with him, the staff, and the best, brightest, and toughest football players in the world.” Luck has kept a low profile since [his surprise retirement from the NFL at age 29](https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/aug/24/andrew-luck-retires-indianapolis-colts-quarterback) when he announced in August 2019 that he was leaving the Indianapolis Colts and pro football. In his new role, Luck will work with Taylor on recruiting and roster management, and with athletic department and university leadership on fundraising, alumni relations, sponsorships, student-athlete support and stadium experience. “Andrew’s credentials as a student-athlete speak for themselves, and in addition to his legacy of excellence, he also brings a deep understanding of the college football landscape and community, and an unparalleled passion for Stanford football,” Muir said. “I could not think of a person better qualified to guide our football program through a continuously evolving landscape, and I am thrilled that Andrew has agreed to join our team. This change represents a very different way of operating our program and competing in an evolving college football landscape.” Luck was one of the players who helped elevate Stanford into a West Coast powerhouse for several years. He helped end a seven-year bowl drought in his first season as starting quarterback in 2009 under coach Jim Harbaugh and led the Cardinal to back-to-back BCS bowl berths his final two seasons, when he was the Heisman Trophy runner-up both seasons. That was part of a seven-year stretch in which Stanford posted the fourth-best record in the nation at 76-18 and qualified for five BCS bowl berths under Harbaugh and David Shaw. But the Cardinal have struggled for success in recent years and haven’t won more than four games in a season since 2018. Stanford just finished its fourth straight 3-9 campaign in Taylor’s second season since replacing Shaw. The Cardinal are the only power conference team to lose at least nine games in each of the past four seasons. Luck graduated from Stanford with a bachelor’s degree in architectural design and returned after retiring from the NFL to get his master’s degree in education in 2023. He was picked No 1 overall by Indianapolis in the 2012 draft and made four Pro Bowls and was AP Comeback Player of the Year in 2018 in his brief but successful NFL career.