Helmet producers have greater than doubled the variety of position-specific fashions that shall be accessible to NFL gamers in 2024, in keeping with annual helmet security rankings launched Tuesday by the NFL and NFL Gamers Affiliation.
Eight of the 12 top-ranked helmets are designed for both quarterbacks or offensive/defensive linemen. They embrace a number of new producers — together with Riddell, whose Axiom 3D mannequin is ranked No. 1 — and are the results of a push from the league to spur extra exercise within the house.
“It is a unbelievable tempo of innovation,” stated Jeff Miller, the NFL’s government vp of communications, public affairs and coverage. “The gamers in these place teams can have quite a lot of choices that they have not had earlier than.”
The NFL/NFLPA helmet rankings, revealed right now, embrace 8 position-specific helmets within the prime 12. Massive soar in that house for OL/DL and QBs. Contains Riddell’s Axiom 3D, which has variations for each positions plus an ordinary mannequin, at No. 1 general. pic.twitter.com/qn5c0XOEEY
— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) April 9, 2024
The NFL and NFLPA first accredited position-specific helmets for linemen in 2022 and quarterbacks in 2023. Final season, there have been a complete of three accredited fashions — two for linemen and one for quarterbacks. They had been worn by 9 quarterbacks and 20 linemen in whole. Miller stated these numbers had been a “good begin for quarterbacks” however “a bit extra modest than we’d have favored” for linemen.
“As extra producers are constructing these helmets for linemen, I believe that there is a chance to develop these numbers,” he stated. Generally, helmets designed for linemen focus further safety on the entrance of the mannequin to account for the sub-concussive contact they sometimes expertise through the preliminary moments after the snap, stated Dr. Annie Bailey Good, a senior mechanical engineer at Biocore, the NFL’s engineering companion.
“Time will inform” whether or not such designs make a substantive impression on the NFL’s concussion numbers, stated Thad Ide, Riddell’s government vp of analysis and product growth. Riddell was one in every of a number of producers this yr to supply position-specific helmets. Its Axiom 3D mannequin has three variations: one for quarterbacks, one for offensive and defensive linemen and one that’s customary for all positions.
“To be good companions with the NFL and to offer the very best safety for his or her gamers, we form of adopted go well with,” Ide stated. “We absorbed these check strategies and methods of evaluating the helmets and tuned a few of our helmets accordingly to carry out within the quarterback sense or the offensive and defensive position sense.”
In the meantime, Miller stated the NFL and NFLPA are nonetheless exploring the causes and potential changes after the helmet of Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes cracked throughout a playoff recreation in frigid temperatures final season. New testing procedures might emerge consequently, along with some completely different game-day protocols.
