The 2024 preseason will see NFL players for the first time have the option to wear protective caps over their helmets during games.
The option carried over into the regular season, with some players continuing to utilize the guardian cap policy. At least one Steelers player was seen wearing a softshell cap during Pittsburgh's Week 1 game against the Atlanta Falcons.
Several other players around the league have also opted for preventative headgear.
The Guardian Cap wasn't widely available when J.J. Watt was toying with opposing quarterbacks on a weekly basis, and the pass rusher-turned-NFL TV analyst wondered if the gear would have been part of his uniform if he were still playing.
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JJ Watt of the Arizona Cardinals during player introductions before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi's Stadium on January 8, 2023 in Santa Clara, California. (Tearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
Watt acknowledged that it was up to individual players to make their own decision regarding the guardian cap, but said he would not wear it during matches.
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“So if you want to wear it, feel free to do so,” Watt said. “I mean, if that's what you feel makes you safer, then sure.”
“Would I wear it? Personally, I wouldn't. But everyone can choose what they want to wear.”
Former NFL player JJ Watt is photographed before the Tennessee Titans and Steelers game at Acrisure Stadium in Pittsburgh on Nov. 2, 2023. (Cooper Neal/Getty Images)
New England Patriots defensive back Jabrill Peppers was one of several players who wore the Guardian cap in Week 1. Peppers, a former University of Michigan football player, said the protective headgear gave him added safety.
“It's for those plays where you don't see the guy coming down the side and you accidentally make contact with your head,” Peppers said, “but I love it because I don't feel anything with it.”
Pepper also noted that the Guardian Cap did not hinder his performance on the field.
“I'm a hitter so the more defense I have, the more I can do it, why not? As long as it's not hindering me or slowing me down, I don't see why not,” he added.
Meanwhile, Colts tight end Kylen Granson also opted to wear the cap during the Indianapolis vs. Houston Texans game.
Bengals defensive tackle Jay Tafele tackles Indianapolis Colts tight end Kylen Granson at Pacor Stadium in Cincinnati on Aug. 22, 2024.
Granson disagreed with the idea that the appearance of the cap would influence the decision to wear soft-shell headgear over a hard-shell helmet.
“Nothing is more aesthetically pleasing than the effects of a TBI,” Granson said on Instagram late last month, “and one thing that people don't realize is that it's not just the big blows you have to worry about, it's the little blows that add up.”
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The Guardian Cap was introduced to reduce the risk of head injuries during contact between players during play, and is designed to absorb about 10% of the impact of a collision, according to a study compiled by the NFL.
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