NFL's Guardian Caps Opposed by Majority of Players Surveyed in Anonymous Poll

A majority of NFL players surveyed by The Athletic oppose the use of Guardian Caps on helmets during regular-season games.

Of 109 players who answered the question, 65 told The Athletic they were opposed to wearing the Guardian Caps during games. Another 31 players responded positively, while 13 were undecided.

Guardian Caps are soft shells worn over helmets in the hope of reducing players' risk of concussion. Most surveyed players opposed to the Guardian Caps mentioned the "extra weight" added to their helmet, per The Athletic.

Several players have chosen to wear Guardian Caps during games this fall since an NFL rule change allowed them to be used during the 2024 regular season. The league has mandated their use in practice for some players since 2022.

One anonymous player told The Athletic that the Guardian Caps added "unnecessary weight," while another said they could "come off or unclip very easily" during games.

"Thumbs down, even at practice it's a little heavier. So for my position, thumbs down," one anonymous defensive back told The Athletic. "Maybe offensive linemen with the repetitive little hits, it would be thumbs up. But I'm not gonna wear it. I don't know too many people who would. In practice, I guess I get it. But not for games."

The Guardian Caps were introduced to training camps as requirement for linemen and linebackers in 2022.

Those requirements expanded as the caps were mandated at preseason, regular-season and postseason contract practices for the previous two positions as well as running backs and fullbacks beginning in 2023. Kickers, punters, quarterbacks, wide receivers and defensive backs were not required to wear the caps, the league noted.

In addition to allowing Guardian Caps to be worn during the 2024 regular season, the NFL announced ahead of the campaign that players would have 12 additional helmets to choose from.

NFL player health and safety executive Jeff Miller said before the season that some of these helmets "provide as much—if not more—protection than a different helmet model paired with a Guardian Cap." Six of the new helmets were rated so highly that the league said players wearing them would be exempt from Guardian Cap regulations in practice.

Some players mentioned these new helmets to The Athletic a reason they have chosen not to wear a Guardian Cap during games.

The Guardian Caps have several outspoken proponents among the players who have chosen to wear the pads during games this season, among them Indianapolis Colts tight end Kylen Granson and safety Rodney Thomas II.

"At one point people thought seatbelts were f--king stupid," Granson said ahead of the season, per James Boyd of The Athletic.

Cleveland Browns linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah said he started wearing the cap after taking a hard hit during Week 1, while Tennessee Titans tight end Josh Whyle added the padding to his helmet after suffering two diagnosed concussions in the past year.

New England Patriots safety Jabrill Peppers told The Athletic's Chad Graff that he likes that he doesn't "really feel anything" when hitting with the Guardian Cap on, but that he would not wear it when competing in hot weather.

The NFL will have a new set of data to examine next spring now that both Guardian Caps and the new helmet designs are on the field for regular-season competition. How the two options perform in terms of player safety could determine if more players join this outspoken minority in wearing Guardian Caps during games.