The NFL is continuing to promote player safety.
With such a high risk of head injuries due to the nature of the sport, the league has instituted new technology.
It started in practices several years ago with Guardian Caps, and then translated to regular-season games in 2024. Players have the option to wear the new helmet add-on, which helped contribute last year to the lowest concussion total since the NFL began tracking the injuries.
Here’s what to know about who wears Guardian Caps:
Which NFL players are required to wear Guardian Caps?
Guardian Caps have been required for certain position groups during practices. Those include linemen, linebackers, tight ends, running backs and fullbacks since head-to-head contact is more frequent among those positions.
The only positions not required to wear the caps are kickers, punters, quarterbacks, wide receivers and defensive backs.
Guardian Caps are optional for all players in the regular season.
Jeff Miller, executive vice president of the NFL’s Player Health & Safety initiative, explains how equipment and rule changes helped the NFL see a 17% drop in concussions recorded from 2023 to 2024.
Which NFL players have worn Guardian Caps in games?
According to GuardianSports.com, 20 players wore Guardian Caps during regular-season or postseason games in 2024. Here’s the full list with their 2024 teams and positions:
- RB De’Von Achane, Miami Dolphins
- RB Tyjae Spears, Tennessee Titans
- RB Roschon Johnson, Chicago Bears
- WR Romeo Doubs, Green Bay Packers
- TE Josh Whyle, Tennessee Titans
- TE Kylen Granson, Indianapolis Colts
- OT Bernhard Raimann, Indianapolis Colts
- OT Luke Goedeke, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- OG James Daniels, Pittsburgh Steelers
- OG Kevin Dotson, Los Angeles Rams
- OG Aaron Stinnie, New York Giants
- DT Evan Anderson, San Francisco 49ers
- DE Josh Hines-Allen, Jacksonville Jaguars
- LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Cleveland Browns
- LB Otis Reese, Tennessee Titans
- LB JD Bertrand, Atlanta Falcons
- S Jabrill Peppers, New England Patriots
- S Rodney Thomas II, Indianapolis Colts
- S Damar Hamlin, Buffalo Bills
- S Taylor Rapp, Buffalo Bills
Medical Director for the NFL Players Association Dr. Thom A. Mayer has worked with thousands of athletes over his career– and raised three boys of his own. Here’s what he says about weighing the risks of youth sports with traumatic brain injury.