NFL Expands Guardian Caps Mandate For 2024 Season

The NFL has once again announced an expansion of its Guardian Caps mandate to include defensive backs and receivers for the 2024 season. Since 2022, the NFL has mandated the use of Guardian Caps during practices. Additionally, due to the efficacy of the Guardian Cap in practice, the NFL has now permitted players to wear the Guardian Cap, if they so choose, during games for the 2024-2025 season.

“We are proud to be a part of improving outcomes for players and grateful to the NFL for their investment in player safety. We will continue to iterate the Guardian Cap to offer improved performance and aesthetics for the future.”

– Erin Hanson, Founder and CEO

For the 2024 season, defensive backs and receivers have joined the list of positions required to wear protective gear for all contact practices through the post season. Positions mandated to wear protective gear now included: OL, DL, LB, DB, TE, RB, FB, WR.

A quick timeline of the highlights from Guardian Caps’ relationship with the NFL over the years.

2017

After 5 years on the field with major college programs, Guardian won the first NFL HeadHealthTECH challenge to “develop new and improved helmet and protective equipment over the next three to five years.”

2019

Additional testing by the NFL & NFLPA appointed engineers, using updated metrics and equipment, revealed that Guardian Caps made a statistically significant improvement over hard-shell helmets alone

August 2020

NFL sent out a memo permitting the use of Guardian Caps. The Jacksonville Jaguars were the first team to implement Caps during practices.

Summer 2021

In addition to the Jaguars, six more NFL teams began to better protect their players with Guardian Caps, including the Rams, Dolphins, Bills, Panthers, Bears, and Chargers.

March 2022

NFL Owners voted to mandate Guardian Caps through the 2nd preseason game for OL/DL/LB/TE.

July 2022

Guardian Caps debuted at NFL Training Camps on all 32 teams.

September 2022

After the 2022 season, ESPN reported that the NFL brought practice concussions to an eight-year low. According to the NFL, Concussions among the players wore Guardian Caps dropped more than 50%

2023

The NFL mandated Guardian Caps for the 2023 season with expanded use.  Changes included use in all preseason, regular season and post season practices instead of just preseason.  Players at position groups with most head contact were required to wear Caps; this added running backs and fullbacks to the previously included linemen and linebackers.

2024

Based on the on-field success of the Guardian Caps, the NFL has once again expanded its mandate to now include wide receivers, cornerbacks, and safeties. Additionally, due to the efficacy of the Guardian Cap in practice, the NFL has now permitted players to wear the Guardian Cap, if they so choose, during games for the 2024-2025 season.