The NFL is as much a television program as a sporting event. 95% of the top-rated shows each year on network TV are NFL games, so it behooves the league to ensure their biggest stars are on the field.
Easier said than done sometimes because of the violent nature of the game, but a new helmet that the league just approved could help reduce concussions and keep quarterbacks upright.
The helmet is designed specifically for QBs and has the blessing of the NFLPA too.
According to league data, half the concussions happen when a quarterback’s head hits the ground, and this new lid, designed by Vicis, will reduce the severity of those hits.
Exhibit A of how these blows to the head could cost a player a career is Tua Tadovailoa of the Miami Dolphins. He suffered multiple scary concussions last season; one occurred when his head was violently slammed into the turf on national television.
Studies showed that the helmet performed 7% better than the helmets most QBs wear. That might not sound like a lot, but it’s a start.
Jason Newbauer is an executive with Vicis. Here’s what he told the AP.
“The unique thing is that it has a deformal outer shell, which means when you take an impact in any location on that helmet, it will deform or basically dent in that location to absorb the impact. What that means for us, as designers or engineers, as we’re looking to optimize it for different types of impacts, we’re able to change unique locations to try to optimize the impact mitigation in any one area.”
As for how many quarterbacks will wear the new helmet, we’re not sure. But if there’s a chance it could prevent a concussion and keep the face of the franchise on the field, it would be shocking if a quarterback chose not to use it.
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