NFL Players Try Guardian Caps as Safety Benefits Remain Unclear

On November 3, 2026, Arizona Cardinals left tackle Jayden Williams was among roughly 20 to 25 NFL players who had opted to wear a Guardian Cap during the 2026 season. The padded helmet cover is intended to soften some impacts, though players are not required to wear it in games.

The league says laboratory tests found a 10% to 15% drop in forces reaching a helmet when one player wears a cap, and a 20% to 30% drop when both do. It has required the covers at contact practices for most players since 2022. A 2025 study found that required use of the NXT model was associated with 54% to 62% fewer practice concussions, while noting the decline could not be credited to the cap alone.

The NFL’s chief medical officer, Allen Sills, describes the cap as one measure in efforts to limit head injuries, rather than a complete solution. He said the league initially adopted it to reduce repeated impacts, not specifically to prevent concussions.

Chris Nowinski, head of the Concussion & CTE Foundation, argues the benefits have been overstated. He says the caps have not been shown to reduce concussions and cautions against giving players a misleading sense of safety. A University of Wisconsin study in 2025 found that the XT model, marketed to younger players, did not lower concussion rates in high school practices.

Several players said they chose the cap for added protection and to support their long-term health. Younger players may also be more accustomed to wearing it, having used similar equipment in school or college. The caps are also used in college, high school and youth football.