Intro this football season you might see more NFL players wearing Guardian caps over their existing helmets the NFL mandated the caps for certain positions during practices 2 years ago but it's now allowing players to sport them during preseason and regular games contact football has given some players head injuries so could this equipment change the game here's what we know now how do How do Guardian Caps work these Guardian caps work the guardian caps were invented in 2010 um and they're actually it's essentially a softer shell uh that goes outside of a helmet and it's been used in other sports hockey Etc um certainly it's it's come into greater use in the NFL it's about 10% reduction in a concussive concussive force to the Head uh if one player is wearing it uh if two players wearing a guardian cap Collide it can reduce the concussive force up to about 20% um but regardless you know that that's a significant lessening uh and we know is inherently violence support is Will the NFL mandate Guardian Caps the league mandating the Caps now and then the big leap forward now is that the league um is allowing players if they want to to wear them during games this season um obviously the next step is will will it be mandated for certain players uh for for all players Etc um you know the League's not going to go there yet uh they want to collect more data to see you know what you know what comes out out of showing this how is Looks vs Safety looks versus safety they didn't love the look of it you know players always talk about you know look good play good uh and it doesn't necessarily look good uh obviously not in a game environment um some players also kind of talk about the fact it takes a little time to get used to there there is a weight to it I think it's also good business uh because I think it want to Mi I think they want to make the game safeer for for kids and for parents