molded polycarbonate NFL helmets are made from molded polycarbonate, a very strong polymer made to absorb bigger hits and withstand extreme temperatures. This material is durable enough to provide protection, yet light enough to allow for quick movement. This shell spreads out the force, so the shock is absorbed by other elements.

Football helmets have stayed pretty much the same since then. But they have a hard outer shell, a thick lining of foam padding, and a grill of bars to protect the face. So the idea behind helmets is to decrease the force the skull and brain feel on impact.

1940s In the mid-1940s, leather helmets were required in the NFL. It wasn't until 1949 that the NFL officially adopted the plastic helmet, ending the leather helmet era. By the mid-50's, single face bars were added to the helmets, and the first appearance of the radio helmet was introduced.

Each position has a different type of face mask to balance protection and visibility, and some players add polycarbonate visors to their helmets, which are used to protect their eyes from glare and impacts.

First, hard plastic is shaped to form the outer shell and a drill is used to add holes. Then, air liners are added to the helmet. These help absorb the impact of blows to protect the skull. Next, foam liners and various pads are added for more protection.

Those are called Guardian Caps. Utes quarterback situation still unsettled. Created by Guardian Sports, the soft shell helmet adds an extra layer of protection that absorbs impact.

First, hard plastic is shaped to form the outer shell and a drill is used to add holes. Then, air liners are added to the helmet. These help absorb the impact of blows to protect the skull. Next, foam liners and various pads are added for more protection.

More than 99% of players wore Top-Performing helmets last season. As part of an NFL-NFLPA policy, Not Recommended and Newly-Prohibited helmets may only be worn by players who wore those helmets during the 2022 NFL season. No players will be permitted to wear the Newly-Prohibited models starting in the 2024 season.

Riddell's Axiom helmet has infiltrated every level of football, making its debut this fall on football players from high school and college to the NFL. The new headgear features the first visor-integrated helmet along with other tech, including impact monitoring and custom-fitting scans.

The new helmet, according to Dr. Ann Bailey Good (a mechanical engineer for Biocore), did a 7% better job of reducing impact severity when compared to the helmet most worn by quarterbacks in 2022. The NFL has tried to limit concussions in recent seasons.

Going into the 2023 season, all 32 NFL teams have ordered VICIS helmets. Why are they so popular? According to laboratory tests conducted by the NFL and NFLPA in 2023, VICIS has the five highest-performing helmets when it comes to reducing the severity of head impacts.

The word helmet is derived from helm, an Old English word for a protective head covering.