In the closing moments of the Indianapolis Colts’ game against the Green Bay Packers on September 15, tight end Kylen Granson made a noteworthy play. He caught a short pass in the middle of the field, surged forward, and braced for impact. As he collided with linebacker Quay Walker, the side of Granson’s helmet struck Walker’s face mask, while the back of his helmet hit the ground after being taken down. After a successful 9-yard gain, Granson stood up, handed the ball to an official, and returned to the line for the next play.
Though this marked his first reception of the 2024 NFL season, it gained attention due to the fact that Granson was wearing a Guardian Cap, a protective helmet covering made of foam padding.
Guardian Caps, which have become mandatory for most positions during NFL preseason practices, as well as regular-season and postseason practices involving contact, received further approval this year for optional use during games. This decision was bolstered by reports of nearly a 50 percent reduction in concussions during training camps since the caps were first introduced in 2022. As of early this season, only 10 players had chosen to wear them in games, according to a league representative. Granson, who had tested his Guardian Cap during preseason games, decided to wear it for the actual game.
“I was pleasantly surprised that it didn’t affect anything for me,” Granson shared with WIRED just days before facing the Packers in Week 2. “I thought, even if it looks kind of silly, it’s worth it.”
The whimsical design of the Guardian Caps has attracted its share of humorous comments. The parent company, Guardian Sports, even created staff T-shirts proclaiming, “LOOK GOOD, FEEL GOOD, PLAY GOOD,” humorously striking through “LOOK GOOD.” Erin Hanson, cofounder of Guardian Sports with her husband, Lee Hanson, noted, “We’ve heard it all—condom caps, mushroom heads—and we just laugh, because we agree.”
The peculiar appearance of the Guardian Caps might seem at odds with traditional football gear, yet their acceptance in the NFL—a league known for carefully regulating player equipment—underscores their proven effectiveness and the pressing need for safer options in football gear.
The risks associated with wearing a helmet have become increasingly apparent, especially with evidence linking repeated head impacts, regardless of whether they result in concussions, to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This brain disorder is connected to cognitive problems like depression and progressive dementia, which can only be diagnosed after death. Consequently, there is a rush for solutions, fueled by the NFL’s investment in independent research and the quickly evolving football headgear market.
At the forefront of these developments is a small business that, less than 15 years ago, struggled to gain a reputation in the football world..
