NFL games will look quite a bit different this year for fans.
Not only are a handful of teams going through a uniform refresh, teams were recently permitted the use of a third alternate helmet, ending the two-helmet rule that never really made a whole lot of sense.
Now we could see Guardian Caps - which started off as a practice safety tool - being worn during games.
Since Guardian Caps became a staple in training camps across the league last fall (with OL, DL, LBs and TEs were required to wear them), the NFL came out and shared in mid-August of last year that positions wearing the soft shell addition to helmets saw a radical 53% decrease in concussions compared to the last three seasons.
Guardian Caps have advertised a 10% reduction in concussions when one player is wearing them, and a 20% reduction when a collision occurs when two players are outfitted in them.
Starting this fall, players will be allowed to wear those Guardian Caps in games, according to comments made on a recent webinar by Dawn Aponte (NFL chief administrative office) and Allen Sills (NFL chief medical officer).
Aponte casually mentioned a new option for players to wear the Guardian Caps during the game, if they so choose.
“So we might actually see a Guardian Cap on a player in a game this year. That’s possible. Great. Big change coming up.” Sills added.
With that on the table, it's a very real possibility that Monday Night Football could feature an entire offensive line unit, defensive line, linebackers, and tight ends (and even more positions) outfitted with Guardian Caps in the near future.
In addition to concussions, the soft shells are also great for those moments when a quarterback follows through on a throw in an enclosed pocket where his hand could be saved by not following through onto the hard shell of an offensive or defensive lineman.
Without being able to see the helmet logos, and with a design that is as safe as it is attention-grabbing, its a shift toward a safety-first mindset that they league has been chirping about for decades.
For the last decade or so the league has been attempting to walk the tightrope of balancing player safety with an a quality and entertaining on-field product, the most recent evidence of which is the changes to kickoffs that will begin this fall.
In allowing Guardian Caps months after data suggested a significant decrease in concussions, the league is showing that no matter how untraditional a departure from the norm is, they're willing to travel down that road to keep players safe.
If the NFL is willing to do that, don't be surprised to see the NCAA and state associations follow suit in the coming years.
As always, stay tuned to The Scoop for the latest.