If you have watched an NFL game this season, you may have noticed some players sporting bulky, spongy-like helmets that differ greatly from the sleek and traditional helmets of the past. At first glance, you might think the players are wearing a temporary helmet fix and wonder, “What the heck is that?” When I first noticed them during the second week of the 2024-25 NFL season, I thought the same.
These soft-shell coverings on helmets — known as Guardian Caps — are actually a new accessory intended to decrease concussion risks. These caps make the game safer, reducing the force of impact by 10 to 15% per player involved in each collision. I expect more and more players to adopt this added layer of protection in the future, and for good reason.
The NFL and its players have continually grappled with the impacts of hard hits, with concussion and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) as common consequences. Players diagnosed with a concussion must overcome a barrier called the “concussion protocol,” a process where they are evaluated for any “no-go” symptoms such as loss of consciousness or confusion. If any “no-go” symptoms are detected, the player is prohibited from returning to the game until the symptoms abate. As the frequency of concussions continues to rise, with players like Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa facing his third diagnosed concussion in the NFL, the league has accelerated efforts to enhance head protection for its players.
Guardian Caps are one of these new protection efforts. The strange-looking helmets did not pop out of nowhere. Invented in 2010 by Erin and Lee Hanson, owners of a material science business called The Hanson Group LLC, these caps gained recognition in the summer of 2013 when the University of South Carolina football team became the first to adopt them for their summer practices. Other teams soon followed, and in 2020, Guardian Caps made their debut onto the NFL field during practices. After testing the caps with the Jacksonville Jaguars, the NFL approved the use of these protections in practice for offensive and defensive linemen on all teams in 2021. Soon after this approval, players were permitted to use them on a voluntary basis in practice, and 23 teams began training camps with the caps experimentally.
Encouraged by a significant 50% reduction in concussions in practice compared to the league’s three-year average, the NFL quickly adjusted its protocols to allow players to wear them in regular season games for the 2024-25 NFL season. Dolphins running back De'Von Achane, Buffalo Bills safety Taylor Rapp and Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah have all embraced them following their approval. Such support from players is essential and marks only the beginning of Guardian Caps’ takeover of the game, as players are not merely promoting this new culture but also enhancing safety within a high-risk sport.
In addition to decreasing concussions, Dr. Steve Rowson, the director of Virginia Tech’s Helmet Lab, said that Guardian Caps can reduce the force of linear acceleration by up to 14%, which means they help reduce the force of contact and potentially limit the risk of head injuries. Tests have also indicated concussion risk decreases by 15 to 35% if both players involved in the collision are wearing them. The last thing any team wants is for a player to suffer a severe injury during practice, sidelining them before the game even starts. By mandating extra protection in practice, players can train at full intensity with decreased injury fears. This will enable teams to develop consistent game plans and give fans the opportunity to enjoy more entertaining games with fewer injury-related roster gaps.
This new helmet design will not entirely eliminate concussions in the NFL, however. No helmet can fully prevent them. Nevertheless, the league’s responsibility is to equip players with the safest gear to reduce injury risk as much as possible. As NFL Chief Medical Officer Allen Sills explained to Forbes in September, “It’s like your car. You want to have airbags and all the protection, but your best protection is to stay out of a collision in the first place.”
The equipment is ready, the rigorous testing has shown the benefits and Guardian Caps are set to roll out, but will players choose to wear them? Opinions are mixed in the locker room. Kylen Granson, a tight end for the Indianapolis Colts, supported them in an interview with The Athletic in August, stating, “Why wouldn’t I [wear it]? Just because it looks silly? I feel like health and safety is more important than aesthetics.” On the other hand, Seattle Seahawks defensive tackle Jarran Reed told Sports Illustrated in July, “I understand the safety for them, but I’ve been playing for a long time. It just looks crazy to me. I don’t like them. I’m ready to take them off.”
It is completely understandable that requiring new gear for players who have long played football with traditional helmets could cause them some inconvenience. This is why they are mandatory in training camps: to aid players in transitioning toward a future where all players might wear them.
Regarding critiques of the cap’s appearance, it may initially seem strange to fans to see their favorite players in unfamiliar, bulky helmets. However, football itself matters more. Guardian Caps will not impact the entertainment value or the passion football enthusiasts share for the game.
Fans should look forward to the day when the NFL announces that Guardian Caps are required for the entire game, especially with promising research underway to design the most comfortable and safest helmet possible. Our days of watching even more entertaining football with players facing fewer safety concerns grow closer each day.
