Guardian Caps Have Arrived in the NFL—Ahead of Schedule

Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor has never been diagnosed with a concussion since being drafted in 2020. He’s taking precautions to keep it that way.

The 2021 rushing champion wore a Guardian Cap during the Colts’ preseason loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

Guardian Caps are padded shells that fit over the standard football helmets.

The caps were introduced in the league in 2022, when offensive linemen, defensive linemen, tight ends, and linebackers were required to wear them during preseason practices up until the second preseason game. Thirty-six additional players chose to do so, with encouragement from the league, which reported a “50% reduction in concussions versus a previous three-year average” (excluding the COVID-19-affected 2020 season, which had no preseason).

This will be the first year in which all players are allowed to wear Guardian Caps during the regular season if they choose. Several players have sported them during preseason games, including Taylor, four other Colts players Sunday, and Pittsburgh Steelers guard James Daniels. 

Daniels endorsed the caps after the Steelers’ Friday night game against Houston. “My head doesn’t hurt, so that’s good. … Hopefully more and more people start wearing them.”

According to the NFL, wearing the Guardian Cap reduces impact severity by 10% or more. That figure jumps to 20% if both players involved in a collision wear them. Thus the widespread adoption of Guardian Caps could help bring down the league’s concussion rate; it officially recorded 219 in 2023, up from 213 the year before.

But don’t be surprised if the caps fail to become ubiquitous. Miami Dolphins linebacker Jordyn Brooks called them “UFO caps” due to their weight, while Eagles cornerback teammate Darius Slay said they make him look “ugly.” 

They may not even catch on among the most safety-conscious players. The league made 12 new helmet models eligible for player use before the season, several designed to guard against position-specific impacts. According to a league source, six of these helmets provide the same level of protection or more as a helmet worn with a Guardian Cap.