[Editor’s note: We published this in 2022, but with the new NFL rules stating players could wear them in games and not just practice, it’s a good time to trot it out again.]
Welcome to FTW Explains, a guide to catching up on and better understanding stuff going on in the world. Have you seen some NFL training camp footage or photos and noticed a strange-looking covering over players’ helmets? Wondering what that’s about? We’re here to help.
NFL training camps are in full swing, and yes, there are players everywhere we’ve seen wearing a waffle-patterned covering over their helmets. It’s called a Guardian Cap, and it’s something that actually started getting used during minicamps earlier this year.
Here’s the twist: It’s required by certain players, and there’s an important reason behind it. Let’s dive in: