By Amy Tennery
NEW ORLEANS (Reuters) – The NFL credited a drop in the number of concussion cases this season with advances in helmet technology but players said it could take time to convince all those on the gridiron to reach for the new gear.
Concussions fell to a record low this season, down 17% from the previous campaign, amid improvements to helmet technology and after the league changed rules governing kickoffs.
The league also allowed the use of helmet coverings known as Guardian Caps during regular-season games, after expanding their use in practice in 2023.
“One of the most significant changes this year was the adoption of the players wearing the best helmets,” NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell told reporters ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl.
“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.”
Convincing players to wear the top-rated helmets has been a challenge considering there are multiple options available, including five that were approved for use but moved to the “not recommended” category this season.
“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,” said NFL Players Association President Jalen Reeves-Maybin, a linebacker for the Detroit Lions.
“Change is hard for some guys.”
The league and the players union adopted enhanced concussion protocols in 2022, after the NFL came under fire for its response to a concussion suffered by Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, who was carried off the field on a stretcher in a now-infamous incident.
Tagovailoa suffered another concussion this season but said he would not use the Guardian Cap, calling it a “personal choice” as he reportedly wears a VICIS ZERO2 MATRIX ID QB helmet that the league classifies a “Guardian Cap optional”.
Washington Commanders running back Austin Ekeler echoed some players’ complaints about the Guardian Cap, a soft-shell covering worn over helmets, saying that it impacts his balance.
“The Guardian Cap feels heavy on my head,” he told reporters at Wednesday’s NFLPA press conference.
“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.”
NFLPA Executive Director Lloyd Howell said he hopes the union can become an “ombudsman” on the issue, getting “upstream with these discussions.”
Philadelphia Eagles guard Tyler Steen was among the players who said he was open to more restrictions on helmets, even as he shared frustrations with the fit and feel of the Guardian Cap.
“I feel like it’s definitely doing something that’s preventing more concussions and more injuries then yeah, for sure,” he told Reuters ahead of Sunday’s Super Bowl against the Kansas City Chiefs.
(Reporting by Amy Tennery in New Orleans, editing by Pritha Sarkar)
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