Concussion numbers are down so why isn’t everyone in NFL is switching to safer helmets

It’s the biggest threat to the NFL by far. For years the concussion discussion has gone on as the league tries to balance its proclivity for violence with an innate need to keep its players safe.

Safety measures working for NFL

There is good news on that front, and it could do with the new technology that has been implanted in helmets the players wear. According to the league, concussions were down 17% last season, which is a record low.

There are a few components that have led to the decrease in concussions as the league has made adjustments, and tweaks to not just equipment but the rules and regulations of the game. The improvements to the helmets were the most direct reason for the the good news, but the updated kickoff rules has decresed those heavy impact head-on collisions.

While not everyone around the league is wearing the best helmets in the league, NFL Commision Roger Goddell is encouraged by the progress. “One of the most significant changes this year was the adoption of the players wearing the best helmets,” said Goddell. “We had 370 players that went into the most recent developments with helmets and I think that’s showing and the Guardian Cap is an addition to that, for those who may not be making the adjustment to the best helmet.”

Rejecting Guardian Cap Tua’s “personal choice”

The Guardian Cap is an add on to a conventional helmet that has been implemented to add another layer of security to those who may not want switch to the safest helmets. While safety is at the forefront of everyone’s priority list, NFL Players Association President Jalen Reeves-Maybin says some players aren’t ready to switch helmets. “We want to get everything data driven but there’s still an aspect of feel for a player who’s been playing this game for so long,” adding “Change is hard for some guys.”

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That is the case with one of the most polarizing concussion victims in NFL history. Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa has suffered a handful of scary concussions that have put his career and health in jeopardy. Miraculously he has been able to recover from those concussions and return to the field, but he said his decision not to wear the Guardian Cap is a “personal choice.”

Washington Commanders running back claims that he likes that the option is there for players but he doesn’t wear the Guardian Cap because it doesn’t feel natural. “The Guardian Cap feels heavy on my head,” said Ekeler who did have to battle through a couple of concussions last year. “I love that it’s - right now - it’s an option. You can use it if you like. I actually had two concussions this last year. I still feel like the equipment that I was wearing was still sufficient enough.”