Traumatic　brain　injury　(TBI)　is　the　leading　cause　for　high　morbidity　and　mortality　rates　in　young　adults,　survivors　may　suffer　from　long-term　physical,　cognitive,　and/or　psychological　disorders.　Establishing　better　models　of　TBI　would　further　our　understanding　of　the　pathophysiology　of　TBI　and　develop　new　potential　treatments.　A　multitude　of　animal　TBI　models　have　been　used　to　replicate　the　various　aspects　of　human　TBI.　Although　numerous　experimental　neuroprotective　strategies　were　identified　to　be　effective　in　animal　models,　a　majority　of　strategies　have　failed　in　phase　II　or　phase　III　clinical　trials.　This　failure　in　clinical　translation　highlights　the　necessity　of　revisiting　the　current　status　of　animal　models　of　TBI　and　therapeutic　strategies.　In　this　review,　we　elucidate　approaches　for　the　generation　of　animal　models　and　cell　models　of　TBI　and　summarize　their　strengths　and　limitations　with　the　aim　of　exploring　clinically　meaningful　neuroprotective　strategies.