{"id":1088523,"date":"2020-01-19T06:37:46","date_gmt":"2020-01-19T11:37:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/?p=1088523"},"modified":"2020-01-19T06:38:48","modified_gmt":"2020-01-19T11:38:48","slug":"how-much-do-nfl-helmets-cost","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sports7.us\/news\/how-much-do-nfl-helmets-cost\/","title":{"rendered":"How Much Do NFL Helmets Cost?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>For players looking to preserve their domes to the highest standards possible, <a href=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/nfl-concussion-protocol-explained-how-does-it-work\/\">protection<\/a> comes at a cost. The NFL and <a href=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/nflpa-called-out-tom-coughlin\/\">NFLPA<\/a> crafted a rigorous test to identify the safest headgear on the market. They <a href=\"https:\/\/operations.nfl.com\/updates\/football-ops\/nfl-and-nflpa-release-2019-helmet-laboratory-testing-performance-results\/\">ranked dozens of helmets<\/a>, including 11 affordable helmets that they prohibited from use in the NFL entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>There was a clear winner: the <a href=\"https:\/\/shop.vicis.com\/products\/zero1\">Vicis ZERO1 Football Helmet<\/a>. The cost? Prepare yourself: $950. Is it worth the premium? Let's find out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How a cutting-edge padding material revolutionized NFL safety<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-twitter wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Ahead of NFL sked release, see our Jets opponent notes. Trivia on LA Chargers (among helmets below) is pretty retro: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/IMTgb54UkQ\">https:\/\/t.co\/IMTgb54UkQ<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/NRKSQDSqye\">pic.twitter.com\/NRKSQDSqye<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Randy Lange (@rlangejets) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/rlangejets\/status\/854481507066490880?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 18, 2017<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>NFL helmets have a <a href=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/nfl-concussion-protocol-explained-how-does-it-work\/\">long history of iterations<\/a>, dating back to the loose leather models from the first half of the 1900s. The accelerated changes from the 1980s, especially after the concussion panic of the 2000s, led to many smaller changes over a much shorter timeframe.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The most effective innovation happened just a few years ago. In 2017, a new padding alternative to the traditional foam emerged.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.denverpost.com\/2010\/12\/01\/new-tools-in-fight-against-concussions\/\">Thermoplastic Urethane Cushioning<\/a>, or TPU, morphs to absorb impacts far more consistently than any other padding in existence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Seattle startup Vicis created the first consumer-level designs for these helmets, which coincided with a worrying rise in <a href=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/this-technology-could-transform-the-nfls-concussion-protocol\/\">concussions in the NFL<\/a>. Vicis' football focus <a href=\"https:\/\/www.prnewswire.com\/news-releases\/vicis-awarded-us-army-contract-to-improve-safety-of-army-and-marine-corps-combat-helmets-300651955.html\">caught the attention<\/a> of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. The startup is now working to apply these impact-absorbent helmets to military applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">NFL concussion rates since the tightened helmet regulations<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Football Concussion Rates Plummet After One Simple Rule Change, Study Shows | TIME\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fNybFABGdyU?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Amidst rising public worries over concussions, the NFL recorded a 16% rise in incidents from 2016 to 2017. This put additional attention on a <a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jama\/article-abstract\/2645104\">shocking 2017 study<\/a>, which found that 99% of former NFL players showed signs of degenerative brain disease.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The NFL quickly responded, tightening helmet standards. This immediately had positive results, with a 24% decrease in concussions from 2017 to 2018.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The main reason for this? Likely the adoption of the Vicis ZERO1 helmet for the 2018 NFL season. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cnbc.com\/2018\/09\/06\/-players-on-almost-every-nfl-team-are-now-using-the-vicis-zero1-helmet.html\">Twenty-eight of 32 teams<\/a> had at least one player wearing the helmet, which still tops the NFL and NFLPA's safety list. The helmet also received a five-star rating from Virginia Tech's respected <a href=\"https:\/\/www.helmet.beam.vt.edu\/varsity-football-helmet-ratings.html\">helmet ratings list<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How helmet cost increases align with real-world results<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed-youtube wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"NFL Using The VICIS ZERO1 Football Helmet That Morphs On Impact To Reduce Head Injuries\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/KYqIubb0k78?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Is the cost really worth the safety of the ZERO1 and similar helmets? Or are NFL concussion decreases more about the general tightening of standards and the dismissal of grandfathered-in old helmets?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For now, it seems like the premium price tag is a necessity. This is because the padding isn't the entire story. The ZERO1 brings impact-absorbing technology to every part of the helmet, including the face mask and outer shell. The rest of the helmet participates in spreading out the impact while the TPU is the final line of defense.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ZERO1 also has a specific underrated safety benefit. The pillars of TPU allow for some design generosity that traditional foam helmets (that meet safety standards) do not. The visor is wider than similar helmets, allowing for a wider field of view.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This helps with gameplay, of course. But it also allows players to react to hits without being blindsided nearly as often &#8212; a common complaint with many modern, approved helmets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The technology is also available in a youth form factor as of 2019. That version, at $495, still carries the sticker shock. But this investment may be the <a href=\"https:\/\/sports7.us\/americans-are-over-football\/\">best way to enjoy football<\/a> without dealing with grievous head injuries as often.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The cost is high, but it's a game-changer in a sport that desperately needs to address head injuries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Follow more updates from Sports7 on our <a rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/Sports7dotcom\/\" target=\"_blank\"><em>Facebook page<\/em><\/a>.<\/em><br><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For players looking to preserve their heads to the highest standards possible, protection comes at a cost. Are NFL helmets worth the cost?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":235,"featured_media":1088535,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v22.3 (Yoast SEO v22.9) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>How Much Do NFL Helmets Cost? - Sports7<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"For players looking to preserve their heads to the highest standards possible, protection comes at a cost. 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