The NFL and NFLPA have permitted the soft-shelled Guardian Cap NXT to be worn by offensive and defensive linemen in practice. Laboratory testing and advanced simulations determined that the Guardian Cap reduced impact severity by a statistically significant margin of 9%.
The research was conducted by Biocore in Charlottesville, Va., the primary lab for Jeff Crandall, the chair of the NFL’s Engineering Committee. He and his colleagues worked in consultation with NFLPA-appointed engineering consultants, and the results were reviewed by NFL chief medical officer Dr. Allen Sills and NFLPA medical director Dr. Thom Mayer.
Guardian Sports won the 2017 NFL-sponsored HeadHealthTECH Challenge . The company’s website touts a 33% reduction in g-force on impact. More than 200 college programs already use the Guardian Cap, including Clemson, Penn State, Texas, Texas A&M, Oklahoma, Washington and Virginia. They are designed to fit over any helmet model.
