Early helmets, introduced in the late 19th century, offered minimal protection. They were primarily leather shells designed to prevent scalp lacerations. As the game grew faster and more physical, concerns about concussions and head injuries rose. The introduction of soft inner padding in the 1930s marked a significant step forward, absorbing some of the impact from collisions.
Tim's original Tidbit can be seen at Absorblo, the 1960s Helmet Exterior Padding.
Check out the audio at Podcast version.
The 1940s and 1950s saw the adoption of hard plastic shells, which offered better protection for the skull. However, the lack of facemasks left players vulnerable to facial injuries. The invention of the single-bar facemask in the 1950s addressed this concern, but it limited visibility and restricted airflow.
In the '60s, Absorblo was a product developed through funding of sporting goods manufacturer MacGregor with testing and engineering at the Cornell Aeronautical Laboratory.
Over the next three decades, some attempts were made to improve the inner padding of the helmets, both for the player's comfort and safety.
The 1980s and 1990s witnessed a focus on impact absorption. Advanced padding materials and chin straps were adopted to manage better the forces transmitted to the head and neck during collisions. The Pro Cap attachment was designed to fit outside the hard shells on the crown of the head, providing impact absorption protection for its wearer. Mark Kelso of the Buffalo Bills made the device famous and claimed it extended his career. Sadly, it never caught on, and only a few other players tried it on the pro circuit—the poor aesthetic appearance needed to be improved for many players to overcome. Additionally, research on the role of helmet fit in mitigating concussion risks began to gain traction.
Innovative attachments like inflatable bladders and shock-absorbing inserts within helmets have been explored in recent years. These technologies aim to reduce impact forces further and mitigate the risk of concussions. However, their effectiveness remains debated, and ongoing research is crucial.
The Guardian protective caps used by teams at all levels, including the NFL, are still in their infancy but are providing sound data for research during practice sessions and, most of all, are affording players that extra layer of protection. According to the Guardian website, the soft external padding fits externally on the helmet shell and provides impact absorption. It also moves independently of the helmet to further deflect the impact blows. There are still player injuries that involve serious injury or worse, so the progress has yet to go far enough.
Despite the progress, the quest for a foolproof helmet continues. The science of head injuries is complex, and concussions remain a significant concern. The NFL and other leagues are actively collaborating with researchers and equipment manufacturers to develop even more sophisticated helmets and attachments.
The evolution of helmet attachments is a testament to football's ongoing commitment to player safety. As research advances and technology evolves, we can expect even more innovative attachments to emerge. However, it's crucial to remember that helmets are just one piece of the puzzle. Coaching techniques that emphasize proper tackling form and rule changes that penalize dangerous hits are equally vital in mitigating the risks associated with this high-impact sport.
Love the helmet designs and evolution wait till you check out the College Football helmet history of schools.
Frequently Asked Questions
✦ Who was the first player to wear a football helmet? We have your answer in our in-depth study ofthe first to wear a helmet.
✦ What is the history of each college team and their helmet designs? Check out many of them with our series College Football helmet history of schools.
✦ How come some teams have player numbers on their helmets? We asked this question too and had a college football expert historian help divulge helmet numbers history.
✦ Why do some teams like Michigan and Delaware look so odd and similar? It's really uncanny isn't it that the Wolverines and Blue Hens look the same, check this out for a reason when helmets had wings.
✦ What do stickers on college football helmets mean? Some of them look really crazy but there is some goos reason for the extra adornments and we have the scoop Why all the stickers on some football helmets?.
✦ When did football helmets change from leather to plastic? Just after World War II saw the most abrupt changes, we have more in this in our chat with an expert:When helmets changed from leather to plastic.
