Some NFL helmets have those padded-looking “covers” to add extra impact protection and help reduce concussions, especially in practices and now sometimes in games.

What those covers are

  • The covers are called Guardian Caps , a soft-shell pad that straps over the outside of a standard helmet.
  • They are made of flexible, padded material designed to deform on impact and spread out the force before it reaches the hard helmet shell.

Why NFL players wear them

  • The main goal is to reduce head impact and lower concussion risk during collisions, particularly for linemen, linebackers, tight ends, and other high-contact positions.
  • NFL data and league statements say Guardian Caps can cut impact forces by around 10% or more in typical hits, with some internal and manufacturer testing suggesting higher reductions in certain scenarios.

Rules and when they’re used

  • The NFL began by requiring certain positions to wear Guardian Caps during training camp practices, then expanded the mandate to most contact practices in preseason and regular season.
  • Players are now also allowed to wear them in games, but in games they’re optional and not everyone chooses them, which is why only some helmets have covers.

Do they actually help?

  • League officials have cited internal numbers showing roughly a 50% drop in concussions among the position groups required to wear the caps during the trial periods.
  • Independent experts note they are not a perfect solution and do not eliminate concussions, but they are one part of a broader push to make football head impacts less severe.

Why they look “different” on TV

  • The bulkier shape and sometimes white or non-metallic look comes from the soft padding sitting on top of the regular helmet, which can then be covered with a fabric shell in team colors or graphics.
  • Some players think they look odd or “less tough,” which is one reason adoption in games has been slower than in practice, even with the safety benefits.

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