January 3, 2025
CHARLOTTE, N.C. (WBTV) – When one Carolina Panthers offensive lineman straps on his helmet this Sunday in Atlanta, he will do something no other Panther has done before.
Starting right guard Robert Hunt – who is finishing off his first season with Carolina – will wear a Guardian Cap, which is designed to go over helmets and prevent concussions.
The device has been around for several years now, but its emergence in NFL circles has blossomed in recent seasons.
Currently, players are required to wear Guardian Caps during every practice that includes contact drills. ESPN reported that players are exempt from the requirement if they wear one of six new helmet models that provide equal or better protection.
Prior to the 2024 season, the league began allowing players to wear the caps during games. Despite being permitted to wear them on Sundays, most players have not. In fact, Hunt will be the first Panther to do so, nearly a full season after the new rule went into effect.
When asked about his decision to wear it, Hunt said it does not have to deal with his health or any past issues, but is simply something he wanted to give a try.
“I woke up and I’m like, ‘you know what, I’m going to wear the Guardian Cap,’” he said. “I think it’s pretty dope. I think it’s very pretty, so I’m going to put it on this weekend, strap it up one last time for the year and see how it feels. And if it feels great, I’m going to go with it next year.”
Guardian Cap proven to reduce impact
The technology of the Guardian Cap could not be more simple. It wraps around the outer shell of a player’s helmet, and has foam blocks that absorb energy when hit. During games, a swim-cap-like cloth designed to look like a regular helmet goes over the Guardian Cap.
Data compiled by the NFL in 2022 showed that Guardian Caps absorbed 11-12% of force when a player was hit in the helmet. If two players involved in a helmet-to-helmet hit both wore the caps, the impact of the collision dropped by 20%.
During a TV appearance in September, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said Guardian Caps have had “a positive impact.”
“They weren’t popular when we introduced them a few years ago. People felt like they didn’t look right, they felt funny to them. We’ve made adjustments to them, we’ve required more players in the preseason to wear those, and they’ve had a positive impact.”
While talking about the caps, he reiterated that whether or not they are worn in games is “player choice.”
Several players have opted to wear Guardian Caps this season, but the vast majority have not.