Steelers' Aaron Rodgers Says New Helmet 'Looks Terrible' After Old Model Was Banned

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers is still not a fan of his new helmet options following the NFL's decision to ban his previous go-to model.

"Hate it. Hate it, hate it," Rodgers said Wednesday about his helmet, per ESPN's Brooke Pryor.

Rodgers' former helmet, the Schutt Air XP Pro Q11 LTD, was one of seven helmets newly banned by NFL ahead of the 2025 season. According to the NFL, the helmet did not meet league standards in lab testing meant to simulate concussive impacts.

"I mean I wore this one last year, had no concussions, some arbitrary ruling," Rodgers said about the Schutt Air XP Pro Q11 LTD, per Pryor. "It makes obsolete now. Silly. I should have pushed it more, petitioned to wear it again one more time."

Rodgers added, "It looks terrible."

Rodgers originally tried the Schutt F7 Pro helmet this offseason, but said after June minicamp that he "can't stand" the model.

He then began practicing in the Schutt Air XP Po VTD II, which NBC Sports' Mike Florio previously described as "one of the few remaining helmets with a smooth, flat shell" that hasn't yet been banned by the NFL.

Rodgers told reporters in August he didn't like the Schutt Air XP Po VTD II, either, even after fitting the helmet with a custom facemask.

"Looks like a damn spaceship out there. We've got to change it," Rodgers said in August about the Air XP Pro VTD II. "The facemask doesn't fit the helmet, because it's an old facemask, obviously, because I'm old. But we're trying to find the right helmet right now."

It seems Rodgers and the Steelers have still been unable to find that right helmet three games into the 2025 season.

The veteran quarterback will look to overcome his helmet discomfort while focusing on the Steelers' upcoming trip to Dublin for a Week 4 international matchup with the Minnesota Vikings. Sunday's kickoff is set for 9:30 a.m. ET.