Stop saying the average NFL career is about three years

By Christopher R. Deubert, Senior Writer News sources (reputable and otherwise) as well as academic and other publications regularly state that the average career in the NFL is about three years (e.g., Associated Press, Wall St. Journal, Statista). These reports often derive from statements made by the NFL Players Association (see Reuters, Washington Post, ESPN, Fox Sports) and have become so ubiquitous as to have the appearance of settled fact. In reality, the articles are a circular loop of