Patrick Mahomes’ Teammate Blasts NFL’s Decision to Allow Guardian Caps: “No Difference”

The NFL has announced a groundbreaking decision to allow players the option to wear Guardian Caps during regular-season games in 2024. Patrick Mahomes‘ teammate, and Chiefs DT Chris Jones expressed his opinion about the effectiveness of these caps on Twitter. Jones’s reposted Dov Kleiman’s tweet, accompanied by the caption “This is the craziest thing ever. These caps make no difference,” reflecting a broader debate within the league about the efficacy of Guardian Caps in preventing head injuries.

Despite initial doubts, Guardian Caps have shown promising results in reducing concussions during training camps over the last two years. NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller revealed that players using these caps experienced a nearly 50% decrease in concussions during practice sessions.

NFL chief football administrative officer Dawn Aponte emphasized the role of data in driving the league’s decision-making process. “Data drives our decision-making and is really at the heart of what we do,” Aponte stated, highlighting the league’s commitment to player health and safety. Players at positions where Guardian Caps are mandated will be exempt from the requirement if they use helmets offering equal or superior protection. 

To maintain uniformity, any Guardian Caps worn during games will feature team logos. League analytics collected over the past decade indicate the effectiveness of Guardian Caps in mitigating the force of impacts during collisions. When worn by at least one player involved in a helmet hit, the caps can absorb up to 10% of the force. If both players wear Guardian Caps during a helmet-to-helmet collision, the impact force is reduced by at least 20%.

Another area of focus for the league is the hip drop tackle, a technique associated with a significantly higher rate of injury compared to other tackles. The NFL plans to conduct further studies on the hip drop tackle leading up to the owners’ May meeting. Coaches will collaborate to define what constitutes a hip drop tackle and to develop a rule to address this issue. However previously, the introduction of Guardian Caps in football has sparked mixed reactions among players.

Mixed views on NFL allowing Guardian Caps

“I don’t really want to wear one,” remarked graduate defensive lineman Raymond Vohasek. “I hear they’re heavy, so I’m just going to stick to what I know.” However, concerns about the caps extend beyond their physical attributes. Experts, including Chancellor Kevin Guskiewicz, co-director of the Matthew Gfeller Sport-Related TBI Research Center, question their efficacy in preventing concussions.

“I’m not convinced that any sort of exterior covering is going to prevent [brain] movement,” Guskiewicz stated. Moreover, Guskiewicz expressed concerns about the potential negative effects of the caps, including increased friction that could predispose players to spine injuries. He also cautioned against the caps creating a false sense of security among players.