More NFL players are opting to wear Guardian Caps during games, a soft protective helmet cover that the league believes could help mitigate head injuries. Arizona Cardinals left tackle Jayden Williams is among the roughly 20 to 25 players who have tried the additional protection during the 2026 season, citing a desire for "a little extra protection."
The NFL mandated Guardian Caps for contact practices for most players starting in 2022, with quarterbacks, kickers, and punters exempt. Laboratory testing cited by the league indicates that if one player wears a Guardian Cap, there is a 10% to 15% reduction in forces transmitted through the helmet, a figure that increases to 20% to 30% if both players are wearing the cap.
In August 2025, research published in the American Journal of Sports Medicine found that the required use of the Guardian Cap NXT model was associated with a 54% to 62% reduction in the overall incidence of NFL practice concussions, though the study noted that the reduction could not be solely attributed to the cap's energy-absorbing effects.
However, some experts question the extent of the benefits. Chris Nowinski, CEO of the Concussion & CTE Foundation, believes the NFL may be overstating the cap's advantages. "The one thing that needs to be clear to players is that it’s never been shown to reduce concussions, the company itself refuses to market it as reducing concussions and there’s zero reason to believe it would make a significant difference in reducing CTE rates," Nowinski stated.
Dr. Allen Sills, the NFL's chief medical officer, clarified the league's intention, stating, "We actually did not introduce the Guardian Cap to reduce concussions, that was not our intention... We simply said, you know what, if this can reduce force by even 10-15%, that could be useful for players who are suffering from repetitive head impacts."
Players choosing to wear the caps in games, many of whom are in the early stages of their careers, report that family and friends encourage the decision for safety reasons. Pittsburgh Steelers rookie wide receiver Germie Bernard said, "The people around me want me to be safe. They want me to play long term and when the game is over I want to be healthy mentally."
Some high-profile players, including Saints receiver Chris Olave and Patriots receiver Romeo Doubs, have also adopted the Guardian Cap. Doubs, who has experienced head injuries early in his career, hopes the cap becomes standard for youth football players.
The Guardian Cap is also used at college, high school, and youth football levels. However, a 2025 University of Wisconsin study on a different model, the XT, suggested it "did not reduce player concussions in high school football practices."
Guardian Sports, the manufacturer, states on its website that "No helmet, headgear, or chinstrap can prevent or eliminate the risk of concussions or other serious head injuries while playing sports or otherwise." Nowinski expressed concern that the cap might provide a false sense of security to parents and athletes regarding the inherent dangers of the sport.