NFL Say Concussions Have Dropped by 50 Percent Since Introducing Guardian Caps

According to the NFL, concussions have dropped by an incredible 50 percent since introducing Guardian Caps, despite them being widely critiqued earlier this year.

The NFL made it a requirement that certain positions wear the caps during training camp and saw a resultant drop in concussions from an average of 23 to just 11.

50 percent fewer pre-season concussions

In 2022, the NFL is as popular as ever. According to an infographic from ExpressVPN, growing numbers have been streaming games in the US, with individual leagues inking deals with streaming platforms as a result. Unsurprisingly, of the dates when sports received the most streaming interest, September the 4th featured prominently i.e. the weekend before the NFL season opening.

Certainly, the season has been a long time coming, but that hasn’t stopped commentators from talking about it – specifically, about the “Guardian Cap”. As NBC Sports explains, this much-touted new fixture is a soft-shell, waffled helmet that looks not dissimilar to a scrum cap in rugby. Its purpose is simple: to reduce the impact of helmet-to-helmet hits.

The cap was introduced during training camp as part of the NFL’s initiative to reduce head trauma during practice. It’s been shown to reduce the force of impact by around 10 percent when one player is wearing it and 20 percent when all players involved in a collision have donned one.

Those required to wear these caps during the training included tight ends, linebackers, and offensive and defensive linemen.

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Supporters and detractors

While you might think the results speak for themselves, not everyone has welcomed the introduction of this innovative piece of equipment. Both players and coaches are among those who’ve panned them.

Criticism has ranged from labeling the caps “goofy” (Lane Johnson) and “ugly” (David Long Jr) to calling their effectiveness into question. One Eagles Jordan Mailata, for example, suffered a concussion despite wearing one at the time.

In this article from Daily Mail, Mailata lambasted the equipment, stating: “The hat’s fake news. It doesn’t stop anything.”

Shelby Harris of the Seattle Seahawks also cautioned that the caps could make players less aware of their vulnerabilities, suggesting: “You might have guys that start leading with their head more because they’re used to not feeling it… And then you get in the game, and next thing you know, they knock themselves out.”

Regardless, many have been impressed. NFL’s Jeff Miller, for example, revealed the performance of the cap had exceeded expectations regarding its impact on concussions. As well as reducing incidences to just 11, six of these injuries were from hits to areas not protected by the caps. Another statistic that speaks for itself is that even though the mandate has now expired, roughly 200 players have continued to wear them.

Browns lineman Joel Bitonio explained: “We want guys to live long, happy lives, and if it helps [to wear] a Guardian helmet for a couple [of] weeks, I think it’s worth it.” To our mind, anything that effectively improves player safety can only be a force for good, and we hope Guardian Caps stick around for the long term.