The NFL and NFL Players Association recently announced they have banned seven helmet models for the upcoming season after they performed poorly in the league’s annual helmet safety test or because they have been discontinued by their manufacturer.
That includes the Riddell Foundation, Riddell Speed, Riddell Speed Icon, Riddell Revolution Speed Classic, Schutt Air XP Pro Q11 LTD, Xenith Epic and Xenith Epic+, bringing the number of helmets that have been banned by the league to 36 different styles.
The NFL began prohibiting players from wearing specific helmet models in 2018, as the league saw a record 291 concussions the season prior. That dropped to 182 last season, the lowest it’s been since the league started tracking the data in 2015.
Among the newly banned helmets, the Riddell Speed is the base model for replica and mini helmets sold by sports retailers, while the Schutt Air XP Pro Q11 LTD is a popular model among current quarterbacks, including free agent Aaron Rodgers and the Cleveland Browns’ Joe Flacco.
“I’ve worn multiple Schutt helmets that have all been on the edge,” Rodgers said during an appearance on The Pat McAfee Show on Thursday. “I think this is at least the second, if not the third helmet I’ve worn that got cycled out because it doesn’t pass the concussion test good enough.
“I’m going to wear a Schutt. If they’ve got a good helmet that passes some sort of test, that’s what I’ll wear. I’m a Schutt guy. I’ve been for 20 years. I’ve tried other helmets at times in college, but that’s my favorite helmet. It’s too bad that they banned it because I haven’t had a concussion in a number of years, but they make damn good helmets.”
Along those lines, the Riddell Axiom 3D, VICIS ZERO2-R MATRIX ID 2025 and Schutt F7 Pro were the three highest-rated helmet models based exclusively on the ability of the helmet to reduce head impact severity rather than other factors such as fit, temperature dependence and long-term durability.
Three models that are not recommended by still allowed to be worn by players include the Riddell SpeedFlex, Schutt F7 2.0 and Schutt F7 URI 2.0 2024. The helmets listed in this category are often prohibited within a few seasons as other styles enter the marketplace.
“The helmets are getting better, the technology is getting better, players are getting more choices and they get to see how those helmets actually perform and what their risk profile is,” NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller told Front Office Sports.
“While we’re thrilled that we saw the fewest number of concussions ever in the NFL last year, we believe that based on equipment alone, we can see an enhanced ability to protect players this season.”
Additionally, players wearing the three top-rated helmet models above – as well as the Schutt F7 Pro WR/DB – won’t be required to wear a Guardian Cap during training camp, as testing has shown they provide equal or better protection than the soft-shell covers.
Photos courtesy of @nyjets, @NFL on X/Twitter.
