The NFL announced on Friday it will now allow players to wear Guardian Caps, a 12-ounce soft shell that fits over their helmets, during regular-season games in an effort to reduce head injuries.
The league initially required offensive and defensive linemen, tight ends and linebackers to wear the headgear during preseason practice in 2022, and that list has since expanded to include running backs, wide receivers and defensive backs.
Data from the last two years has shown a 50 percent reduction in concussions among players wearing Guardian Caps in training camp compared to the average of the 2018, 2019 and 2021 seasons, when the protective headgear was not present.
“We now have two years of data showing significant concussion reductions among players who wear Guardian Caps during practice, so players will be permitted to wear the cap during games this upcoming season,” NFL executive vice president of player health and safety Jeff Miller said.
“Additionally, there are new helmets this year that provide as much – if not more – protection than a different helmet model paired with a Guardian Cap. These developments represent substantial progress in our efforts to make the game safer for players.”
Research has also shown a 10 percent reduction in force of a helmet-to-helmet hit when one player is wearing a Guardian Cap and a 20 percent reduction if two players are wearing the protective gear, which is why more than 300 colleges and 3,000 high schools across the country use them.
While most are a single color, some include team logos on the sides and stripes down the center, as debuted by the Georgia Bulldogs during spring practice in March. The current plan is for the NFL to match the caps to the helmets during games, as well.
“We are proud to be a part of improving outcomes for players and grateful to the NFL for their investment in player safety,” Guardian Innovations founder and CEO Erin Hanson said.
“While we are proud of our current products and their performance on the field, we will continue to iterate the Guardian Cap to offer improved performance and aesthetics for the future.”
