If you have seen any sort of NFL or NCAA football practice, then you have noticed the extra padding that is on the outside of the helmet. This is called the guardian cap. This protective cap is designed to protect players from internal head injuries such as concussions or CTE (chronic traumatic encephalopathy). Normal football helmets are only designed to protect the player’s skull, face, and teeth.  

In 2022, the NFL began requiring players of certain positions to wear this cap. Football is no doubt one of the most physical sports. For this reason, the injuries that this sport can cause are pretty serious. It’s especially easy to get head injuries from playing football. With every single play, linemen are practically bumping heads with the other line. This impact can really cause long term effects such as Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s. 

The caps can also be a big asset for coaches. As previously mentioned, the caps are used to prevent internal head injury. This would prevent players from having to be benched for head injury. 

The caps are designed by a company called Guardian Sports. They were designed in 2010 to combat rising head injury in football players. They sell at just around $50. The technology is similar to that of an airbag; the padding absorbs a lot of shock, the hard helmet then absorbs the rest, thus reducing shock in the head. The cap is said to be able to reduce impact up to thirty-three percent. 

With rising cases of CTE and other long term head injuries, the amount of players seen flocking to the sport is dwindling. People are simply scared of what could happen to them. However, with the new technology such as the Guardian cap, there is hope for coaches and other players to see new people play the sport.