Aaron Rodgers currently wears a Schutt Air XP Pro VTD II–style helmet, after the NFL banned his longtime favorite Schutt Air XP Pro Q11 LTD for safety reasons.

Quick Scoop: Rodgers’ Helmet Situation

What helmet does he wear now?

  • Rodgers entered the 2025 season with the Pittsburgh Steelers wearing an approved Schutt Air XP Pro VTD II–type helmet.
  • This model replaced his previous Schutt Air XP Pro Q11 LTD, which the NFL and NFLPA removed from the approved list following updated safety testing.
  • He has stuck with Schutt designs overall, even as he experiments within their newer, approved models.

What did he wear before?

  • For years, Rodgers was strongly associated with older‑style Schutt helmets, notably the Schutt Air XP Pro Q11 (often noted as Q11 LTD), which had a classic, slimmer profile.
  • That older helmet became “not recommended” and then fully banned as testing and safety standards tightened, forcing him to switch for the 2025 season in Pittsburgh.

How does Rodgers feel about the new helmet?

  • He has publicly said he “can’t stand” the new helmet and has complained that it looks like a “damn spaceship” because it is bulkier and rounder than his older model.
  • His main issues are:
    • Aesthetics: he thinks it looks bad on him compared to his old, tight‑fitting lid.
* Fit and feel: he is still “in the process” of finding a version that feels right, even while using an approved Schutt design.

Why did the NFL make him change?

  • The NFL and NFLPA run annual helmet safety evaluations and rank models; Rodgers’ preferred Schutt Air XP Pro Q11 LTD failed to meet the latest standards and was moved from “not recommended” to banned.
  • Once a helmet model is banned, players are no longer allowed to wear it in games, regardless of personal preference or past concussion history.

Any forum and “trending topic” context?

  • NFL fans on forums like Reddit and team subreddits have been joking about Rodgers’ frustration with the new look, calling the helmet huge, “spaceship‑like,” and poking fun at how often he talks about it.
  • In 2025 discussions, much of the talk isn’t about the exact make and model, but about:
    • Rodgers’ attachment to his old gear and image
    • How often gear rules, safety, and aesthetics clash for veteran players
    • Memes about his “spaceship” helmet and age as one of the league’s oldest active quarterbacks.

TL;DR:
Rodgers used to wear a Schutt Air XP Pro Q11 LTD, but after that model was banned, he switched to an approved Schutt Air XP Pro VTD II–type helmet, which he still openly dislikes for how big and “spaceship‑like” it looks.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.