The world of football is constantly changing, as is the push for better safety equipment. The most recent and noticeable change is the Guardian Cap, a soft-shell helmet cover that has gained attention since the NFL mandated some groups to use it during practice in 2022.
However, as injuries have been accumulating — like the Miami Dolphins receiver Grant DuBose’s head injury on Sunday against the Houston Texans and their quarterback, Tua Tagovailoa sustaining another concussion early this season — it’s fair to consider whether the caps are the revolutionary change that football needs.
Offensive linemen like Ming Tjon from Florida International University (FIU) certainly believe so. However, scientific research and real-world data show that it’s a more complicated answer.
On Field Experience
Tjon, an offensive lineman at FIU, shares his positive experience with the guardian caps, particularly for practices. Ming Tjon says, “I believe the guardian caps are super safe,” he says, emphasizing the importance of training during the physically demanding week leading up to game day.
Football, after all, is more than just the handful of games the fans watch; it’s the continuous grind, the repeated hits, and the practice sessions where players put their bodies on the line week after week during the season.
Tjon wears his helmet up to five times a week during practices, and the guardian cap adds an extra layer of protection, he says.
“Football’s a dangerous sport, so the fact that they’ve created something to give us some protection is awesome,” he explains. He’s particularly impressed with how light the caps are.
In Lab Research
While Tjon is a firm believer in the protective value of guardian caps during practices, recent studies have cast some doubt on their efficacy in actually reducing real-world injuries.
Research published by the National Institutes of Health from researchers including Kristen G. Quigley of the University of Nevada used special mouthguards to measure the force of impacts. The work found that guardian caps did not significantly reduce head impact during practices.
The N.F.L., however, has been one of the biggest advocates of guardian caps, mandating their use during some training drills for offensive and defensive linemen, linebackers, and tight ends. According to the league, the caps have led to nearly a 50% reduction in concussions for players wearing them. But as researchers point out, the NFL has yet to publish the data backing this claim, leading to skepticism in the scientific community.
Brenda Goodman, a reporter for CNN, noted in a recent article, “The NFL embraced soft-shell helmet covers to protect players from concussions.”
But the lack of transparency and data raises questions about their long-term efficacy. “Guardian caps may reduce the force of some hits, but football players still face the risk of repeated head trauma,” Goodman wrote, cautioning that the caps alone are not the sole solution for the problem of concussions in football.
Do Players Want to Wear Them?
Tjon recognizes that, while guardian caps are valuable during practices, they may not be embraced universally during games. “It really comes down to just bringing up that physical aspect of playing football,” he says. For linemen, the game isn’t about the big hits that make highlight reels, but the “constant little thud” of contact play after play. The challenge for these players lies in balancing effective protection with the physical demands of the game.
Tjon also raises an interesting point regarding players like Tagovailoa, the Dolphins quarterback who has suffered multiple concussions. Despite wearing custom-designed helmets, he has continued to experience head injuries. He has declined to use the caps, calling it a “personal choice.”
“Imagine if he put the Guardian Cap on top of his custom helmet,” Tjon says, “Maybe it saves him from two concussions that are just brutal.”
What is the Future of Football Safety?
The introduction of guardian caps has reignited the conversation around player safety. While Guardian Caps may not be the definitive solution to concussions, they represent a step forward in protecting athletes during training sessions. As Tjon points out, football careers are short, but life after football is long, and keeping players healthy after the game is just as important as during.
“I think guardian caps are amazing,” Tjon says. For him, it’s not just about the here and now, but about the next generation of athletes having the opportunity to live healthy lives beyond their days on the gridiron.
However, as researchers continue to explore the true reliability of the caps, the question remains: Will these new helmet covers become a staple of player protection, or will they ultimately be seen as a failed experiment?
As researchers continue to look for answers, players like Ming Tjon are hopeful. For them, guardian caps represent progress. While not perfect they are moving the game in the right direction.
The cap gives us a glimpse into the future of football safety. They may not be a silver bullet, but they’re a potentially vital piece of the puzzle in ensuring a safer game for generations to come.
