Neutrophils are the most abundant immune cells in human, and they can kill pathogens by chemotaxis, phagocytosis and direct sterilization. In recent years, neutrophil extracellular trap (NET), a new antibacterial way of neutrophils, has been found. NETs not only capture and kill pathogens by releasing the net-like structure formed by nucleic acid and granular proteins, but also participate in a number of human pathophysiological processes, such as tumor cell metastasis, inflammation, ischemia reperfusion injury, autoimmunity, etc. The central nervous system has once been regarded as a privileged part of the immune system. However, recent studies have found that in central nervous system injury such as trauma, inflammation and cerebrovascular diseases, there are large numbers of NETs formed in brain microvessels and parenchyma, which may aggravate the cerebrovascular and brain parenchyma damage. This article reviews the role of neutrophils and NETs in the development and progression of central nervous system injury.