Ischemic stroke is an acute central nervous system disease with high morbidity, mortality, and disability rates, imposing a significant burden on patients’families and society. Pathological changes in ischemic stroke are complex, and the available treatment options are limited. Therefore, it is urgent to further explore the pathological mechanisms and identify new therapeutic targets. The role of neutrophils in ischemic stroke has long been neglected. However, research in the past decade has suggested that neutrophils are actively involved in nerve injury and repair after ischemic stroke. In addition, neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), a new regulatory mechanism of neutrophils, play an important role in acute inflammation, thrombosis, vascular damage, and other pathological processes after ischemic stroke, potentially being a key target in promoting neovascularization and functional recovery post-ischemic stroke. This review focuses on the role of neutrophils, especially NETs, in nerve injury and repair after ischemic stroke, along with advances in treatments targeting neutrophils and NETs.