JUMP TO:
- What is a Guardian Cap?
- When did the NFL start using Guardian Caps?
- Why the NFL introduced Guardian Caps
- Can NFL players wear Guardian Caps in games?
- Do Guardian Caps work?
- Guardian Caps weight
- How many players wear Guardian Caps in games 2025?
- Who wears a Guardian Cap in NFL 2025?
- What players and coaches say about Guardian Caps
NFL uniforms have been marked by a distinct piece of equipment in recent years.
Helmets have changed markedly over the years. The past was defined by leather-bound helms caked in brown and stitching. Riddell, VICIS and Xenith have come to take on the responsibility as of late, adorning their offerings with platelets of polycarbonate, polyurethane and shock detectors.
Quietly, there's another manufacturer making waves for their contributions to hard hats. Guardian Caps are increasingly commonplace in NFL circles, drawing praise from some and rebuke from others. Crafted by Guardian Sports — the brainchild of owners Erin and Lee Hanson — the caps are a critical, if understated part of players' wardrobes during NFL Sundays.
So, just what is the Guardian Cap? And how useful is it in reducing head injuries? Here's what you need to know.
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What is a Guardian Cap?
Guardian Caps refer to the "soft-shell helmet cover engineered for impact reduction", according to the product's official website.
Constructed in 2010, the caps were designed to reduce the risk of concussions and other head injuries during play. The caps operate under the premise that having a "soft" layer of material outside of a helmet would aid in limiting the severity of impact during collisions.
Physics say that an outer 'soft' material of the proper density, stiffness and energy absorbing properties reduces the initial severity of the impact. The hard shell then has lower forces transmitted to it, and in turn conveys lower forces to the interior soft helmet padding and then lower forces to the head. Very similar to a NASCAR driver and the soft wall technology that tracks have adopted or even automobiles and the soft bumpers and airbags that are now required. The Guardian Cap serves the same purpose for an athlete’s head—a soft shell barrier between it and impact.
After being tested at the collegiate level, Guardian Sports partnered with the NFL to see if its technology could reduce concussions in the big leagues. According to NFL research, the cap absorbs at least 10% force of a hit, representing a "statistically significant" difference in injury rate compared to players wearing just helmets.
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When did the NFL start using Guardian Caps?
Guardian Caps were formally introduced in 2020. The Jaguars were the first team to test the device, sporting the headpiece during training camp. In 2021, six additional teams — the Bears, Bills, Chargers, Dolphins, Panthers and Rams — added Guardian Caps to their practice attire.
In March 2022, the league had mandated the use of Guardians Caps through the second game of preseason for linemen, tight ends and linebackers. By the summer, the caps were in the closet of all 32 teams.
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Why the NFL introduced Guardian Caps
The league sought a solution to the issue of concussions and head injuries. Guardian Caps came into existence in the early- to mid-2010s, becoming a fixture for high school programs across the country.
They've since become a formative part of NFL Sundays, with the league offering grants to researchers to help aid in the padded covering's development.
Can NFL players wear Guardian Caps in games?
NFL players are permitted to sport Guardian Caps during matches. Jonathan Taylor sported them during preseason games in 2024, while former Titans tight end Josh Whyle rocked the look during the 2024 regular season. Other players to don the padded covering during games include Damar Hamlin, Jabrill Peppers, Josh-Hines Allen and De'Von Achane, among others.
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Do Guardian Caps work?
Data seems to support the claim that Guardian Caps work as advertised.
During an appearance on "Good Morning Football" in August 2023, NFL executive VP Jeff Miller told NFL Network that the caps had reduced concussions by over 50 percent during the preseason. Additionally, it's been estimated that the impact of hits drops 20 percent in collisions between two players wearing the headgear and 10 percent when only one player is wearing it.
"We now have two years of data showing significant concussion reductions among players who wear Guardian Caps," Miller said in a statement in April 2024.
"Additionally, there are new helmets this year that provide as much — if not more — protection than a different helmet model paired with a Guardian Cap. These developments represent substantial progress in our efforts to make the game safer for players."
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Guardian Caps weight
Guardian Caps are feathery in nature. The standard version of the covering offered on the company's website weighs around seven ounces.
The version of the padding given to NFL teams is larger — after all, NFL athletes are bigger and move at higher speeds. According to ESPN, those caps weigh between 12.5 and 14 ounces.
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How many players wear Guardian Caps in games 2025?
Nine players have draped their heads in Guardian Caps during regular season games in 2025. While the device was first introduced with linemen in mind, it has become ubiquitous, taking hold of much of the depth chart.
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Who wears a Guardian Cap in NFL 2025?
- Taylor Rapp, S, Bills
- Romeo Doubs, WR, Packers
- Kevin Dotson, G, Rams
- Alaric Jackson, OL, Rams
- Savion Williams, WR, Packers
- Luke Goedeke, RT, Buccaneers
- JD Bertrand, LB, Falcons
- James Daniels, G, Dolphins
- Jabrill Peppers, S, Steelers
The 2025 season has seen a variety of different players wear Guardian Caps. Safeties (Taylor Rapp, Jabrill Peppers), linebackers (JD Bertrand) and wide receivers (Savion Williams, Romeo Doubs) have worn the apparatus in addition to the usual suspects of offensive and defensive sentries (Kevin Dotson, Alaric Jackson, James Daniels).
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What players and coaches say about Guardian Caps
Guardian Caps were initially deemed a bit tacky, with former Texans and Cardinals great J.J. Watt likening the look to a "bobblehead" and Arizona QB Kyler Murray asserting he doesn't "really like the way it looks", per Arizona Central.
Fellow Cardinals talent Marvin Harrison Jr. agrees.
“If you could just find a way to make it look more aesthetically pleasing,” Harrison Jr. said. “I feel like nobody wants to wear it because of that reason.”
Generally speaking, the oversized nature of the device leaves a lot of players unconvinced. The science appears to be promising. But in a space that rewards players for cultivating their own sense of style and appeal, bulky bonnets aren't too appealing.
“You feel good, you play good,” Arizona safety Budda Baker said. “You look good, you play good.”
Still, there appears to be a growing understanding that Guardian Caps are a viable option for those playing in positions that tend to take on more head contact, such as linebacker.
Here's what Jabrill Peppers said about his decision to don a cap during the 2025 season.
Jabrill Peppers will become the second #Steelers player to don a Guardian Cap in game action tomorrow. Here the newly arrived safety is on why he wears one: pic.twitter.com/sFym9ewRNo
— Brendan Howe (@bybrendanhowe) September 13, 2025
All told, there's no one universal view on the usefulness of Guardian Caps. They've shown signs of being a safer alternative to the usual helms sported by the league's best and brightest talents. But they're large and a bit of an eyesore. Players who have dealt with head injuries may be more inclined to wear the headpiece. But it will take some time for the equipment to collect near-universal support.
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