Caps Worn in Regular Season NFL Games
This past Spring, the NFL and CFL announced an expansion of their Guardian Caps mandate to include all positions with the option for quarterback, kicker, and punter during contact practices. Both leagues also permitted the use of Guardian Caps for in-game use if the player chose to do so.
Player safety is our priority at Guardian Sports and it is encouraging to see NFL players recognize the mission of our products. So far this season, we have seen seven players from different teams choose to use Guardian Caps in games.
James Daniels, a guard for the Pittsburgh Steelers, made headlines for being the first player to wear a Cap in preseason games. He has continued to wear Guardian Caps in games throughout the regular season. Daniels saw the value of the added protection from Caps and has become a part of the effort to improve player safety in the NFL.
“I’m the only person on this team wearing it. For me, it really doesn’t matter. People don’t care. As long as you’re out there blocking, it doesn’t matter what you wear. That’s all I care about..”
Indianapolis Colts tight end Kylen Granson has been very vocal about his decision to wear Guardian Caps in regular season games. He has been wearing Caps in all preseason and regular season games. This stems from his commitment to staying better protected as his concerns about his health and future outweigh aesthetics. He is passionate about promoting athlete safety and states that it is “cool” to be cautious.
“The league is now allowing us to wear Guardian Caps in the regular season. For me, it was a no-brainer. I just said yes, I want to wear it the whole season.”
Rodney Thomas II, a safety for the Indianapolis Colts, has been wearing Guardian Caps in games Weeks 1-3. Thomas emphasizes the importance of player safety by promoting athlete safety in the NFL.
Josh Whyle, the Tennessee Titans tight end, has been wearing Guardian Caps for the Week 1 – 3. After suffering a few injuries earlier in his career, Whyle decided to prioritize his health by utilizing Guardian Caps.
“I can’t mess around anymore. I want to stay healthy, and if this is what it takes, then I’m all for it.”
Jabrill Peppers, a safety for the New England Patriots, has been wearing Guardian Caps for Weeks 1 – 3. Peppers explained his decision to wear the cap, stating that as a hard-hitting player, he values the extra protection Caps offer.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, linebacker for the Cleveland Browns, has been wearing Caps in games for Weeks 2 and 3.
Kevin Dotson, an offensive lineman for the Los Angeles Rams, has been wearing Guardian Caps in games for Week 3.
Guardian was founded in 2010 with the mission of better protecting players through advancements in technology. Erin and Lee Hanson utilized their expertise from their material science business, the Hanson Group, to engineer, patent, and manufacture Guardian’s flagship product, the Guardian Cap, which was launched in 2011. After successful biomechanical testing and field testing, the company began marketing and selling in 2012.
Fast forward and now 500+ college programs such as Clemson University (heading into their 11th season with Guardian Caps), Penn State, University of Georgia, University of Texas, Alabama, Tennessee, Florida State, Texas A&M, University of Oklahoma, University of Oregon, University of Washington, and hundreds of others have implemented Guardian Caps, along with 5000+ high school and 1000+ youth programs all around the nation.
