On Sunday the Seahawks play the Patriots in the Super Bowl. I will be on the lookout for any with oversize “bobbleheads”—a derisive term by J.J. Watt of the Cardinals for fellow players who wear Guardian Caps to protect themselves against concussions. The manufacturer of these soft-shell, foam-padded, helmet claims a 40% reduction in HARM—head acceleration response metric,* That is a very clever acronym, but does it really lessen brain trauma? The NFL thinks so, citing nearly 50% reduction in concussions for players wearing them. Many position players, for example, running backs and linebackers, must wear Guardian Caps during all practices involving contact—use in games remaining optional.
However, as recently reported by the New York Times,** “independent neurologists are generally skeptical, if not outright dismissive, of the benefits of any product claiming to reduce concussions because few rigorous studies have been done to demonstrate their effectiveness.” The rate of concussions in NFL preseason practices from 2018 to 2023—after the advent of Guardian Caps—declined between 54 and 62 percent. However, the statisticians who gathered the data admitted that the use of the protective covering did not significantly reduce concussions from helmet hits.
“There’s no question that every injury or injury reduction strategy is multifactorial.”
– Jeff Miller, NFL’s chief spokesman
I’ve suffered several concussions—the first one in 3rd or 4th grade (I forget) gym class diving at a dodge ball and smacking into the wall.
After that I joined a football team at a small playground that in my 8th grade made it to the Saint Paul City ‘superbowl’ the year of Superbowl I. However, every full contact practice and game caused me such headaches that I shifted over to playing ‘pickup’ touch football. This saved me (I hope) from persistent post-concussion syndrome turning into chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Many years later playing with me buddies from General Mills Chemical R&D I knocked myself out diving for a softball hitting my noggin on a sprinkler head. (I am a bit too competitive at sports!)
My third concussion, the cause of which I’d rather not discuss, sent me to ER for dozens of stitches and a night in intensive care at Hennepin County Medical Center.
So, I can feel the pain and very much hope that further developments in head protection will protect contact-sports players of all ages from concussion and CTE.
*See their video on The Science Behind Guardian Caps
**“The Questionable Science Behind the Odd-Looking Football Helmets,” Ken Belson, Feb. 3, 2026.