Late in the game against the Green Bay Packers on September 15, Indianapolis Colts tight end Kylen Granson caught a short pass over the middle, advanced, and prepared for contact. His helmet collided with linebacker Quay Walker’s face mask, and then hit the ground as Walker tackled him. Granson stood up after the 9-yard gain, handed the football to an official, and prepared for the next play.
This play was notable not only for being Granson’s first reception of the 2024 NFL season, but also for his use of a Guardian Cap—a 12-ounce, foam-padded protective helmet covering—at the time of impact.
Guardian Caps are mandatory for most NFL positions during preseason practices and contact practices throughout the regular season and playoffs. This year, the NFL approved them for optional game use, attributing a roughly 50 percent reduction in training camp concussions since their introduction in 2022. Despite this endorsement, only 10 NFL players had used them in games at that point in the season, according to a league spokesperson. Granson, however, decided to wear the Guardian Cap after testing it in preseason games, opting for safety over aesthetics. The cap had a 1-ounce cover featuring the Colts logo to resemble the helmet underneath.
Granson expressed satisfaction with the Guardian Cap, noting, “I was pleasantly surprised that it didn’t affect anything for me,” when speaking to WIRED before facing the Packers. He acknowledged its unusual appearance but deemed it worthwhile.
Guardian Caps, which have a distinctive puffy look, have faced some criticism for their appearance. Erin Hanson, cofounder of Guardian Sports with her husband Lee, mentions the numerous nicknames the caps have received, and the company embraces the humor, excusing the caps’ aesthetic.
The acceptance of Guardian Caps in NFL games—despite the league’s meticulous approach to player equipment—highlights both their practicality and the urgent need for improved safety in football. The link between repeated head impacts and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a progressive brain disorder, has accelerated the quest for safer football gear. This movement is bolstered by the NFL’s investment in private research and the innovation within the football headgear industry.
At the forefront of this shift toward safer gear is Guardian Sports, a relatively small enterprise that has gained traction in the football industry, previously facing skepticism.