NFL: ‘Significant Advancement In Helmet Safety Innovation, Position-Specific Models’
Tuesday, April 9, 2024 at 02:50PM By Barry Janoff
Photo: NFL, NFLPAApril 9, 2024: Stating that, “We're proud to see so many new helmets continue the rapid rate of improvement we've seen over the past decade," the NFL and NFLPA today introduced as part of its annual helmet safety report five helmets for the 2024 season that “tested better than any helmet ever worn in the league.”
According to the NFL and NFLPA, this reflects “a significant advancement in helmet safety innovation. In total, a record 12 new helmet models are eligible for players to wear for the 2024 season.”
After first becoming available to offensive and defensive linemen in 2022 and quarterbacks in 2023, 2024 will be the third season that position-specific helmets are available for certain positions, with eight new position-specific models.
“These helmets are designed to mitigate impacts more likely to be sustained by individual positions,” according to the NFL and NFLPA.
“The designs of position-specific and all helmet models are informed in part by game impact data that the league collects and shares with helmet manufacturers.”
“We're proud to see so many new helmets continue the rapid rate of improvement we've seen over the past decade," Jeff Miller, NFL evp-player health and safety, said via the league.
“What's more, the growing availability of position-specific helmets is a central part of our effort to provide players with the best possible protection for their position. Quarterbacks and linemen will have a range of tailored helmets available to them with more positions to come in the next couple of years."
The NFL, in collaboration with the NFLPA, “annually conducts laboratory testing performed by jointly appointed biomechanical experts to evaluate which helmets best reduce head impact severity..
NFL Helmet Rankings 2024“Top-performing helmets were also evaluated using position-specific test methodologies for quarterbacks, offensive linemen and defensive linemen. These tests recreate the unique impacts players at each position tend to experience on the field.”
In total, the NFL and NFLPA said six helmets were newly prohibited for the 2024 season.
“Each of these helmets ranked among the top-performing group when first introduced, which is a testament to how helmet performance has increased through the introduction of new, better performing helmets.”
This year's helmet list features two new models — the Light Gladiator (ATK) and Xenith Orbit Pro — developed by awardees of the NFL Helmet Challenge, a $3 million competition designed to accelerate helmet performance and safety for NFL players.
Riddell had the top-performing helmet, the Axiom 3D (R61227) and six of the Top 12 highest-tested helmets.
Xenith’s Orbit Pro was rated No. 2.
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