The helmets of select NFL players might look a little larger than usual this fall.
The league has approved the (optional) use of Guardian Caps for regular season games during the 2024 season. After mandating the caps for practice in 2023, the NFL saw a reduced number of head injuries. The caps are not mandatory for games, but players can choose to wear them.
“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,” Jeff Miller, the NFL’s EVP overseeing player health and safety said in a statement.
It remains to be seen how many players will opt into wearing a cap during a game. One would assume that offensive linemen and players returning from concussions will be the most likely candidates to wear the extra protection.
The Guardian Caps will be mandatory for most positions at practice this summer, and then become optional when games begin in the fall.
