WASHINGTON — NFL players will be allowed to wear the protective Guardian Cap over their helmet during games this upcoming season if they want to, league officials have confirmed.
Previously, Guardian Caps could only be used in practices. The NFL mandated Guardian Caps for most players during preseason practices and in the regular season for contact practices. Use during games will be optional.
The cap is a padded, soft-shell layer that attaches to the outside of the hard-shell football helmets, which is said to reduce the severity of impact blows to the head by about 10%, according to the NFL.
Earlier this week, the NFL posted video of a webinar titled "Reducing Head Impacts," where Dawn Aponte, the NFL's Chief Football Administrative Officer, mentioned there would be the option for players to wear the cap in games.
That's a reversal in the league's stance last year, when players were expressly prohibited from wearing the Guardian Cap during actual games, according to Pro Football Talk. While the video was just posted this week, the webinar took place on April 9.
The NFL posted Friday on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the caps have been authorized for in-game use this season to "reduce player risk and continue driving innovations in equipment technology."
It's not yet known whether any NFL players will take the league up on the offer to wear the modified headgear during any preseason or regular season games.
Last fall, the Park Cottage Grove high school football team became the first in Minnesota, and perhaps first in the country, to wear the Guardian Cap during a real game.