Guardian Caps in the NFL: Rob Gronkowski Weighs In

Former NFL star Rob Gronkowski shares his thoughts on the Guardian Cap, a device designed to reduce concussions, and whether he would have considered wearing it during his playing days.

Rob Gronkowski, a former NFL tight end for the New England Patriots and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, has given his take on the Guardian Cap, a device that is being worn by some players in the NFL to reduce concussions.

During the 2023 preseason, players were allowed to wear the Guardian Cap during regular-season games for the first time. The cap was not widely available during Gronkowski's playing career, but he admitted that he would have considered wearing it.

Guardian Caps in the NFL: Rob Gronkowski Weighs In

"I haven't tried it out, but it would definitely be a possibility," Gronkowski said. "It's definitely something I would have thought about because I've had a lot of injuries in my career and having injuries suck. It sucks to recover from them and it kind of just stalls your life big time in every aspect."

Gronkowski explained that he would have needed to weigh the potential benefits of the Guardian Cap against its potential impact on his performance. "I would have definitely tried it out to see the comfort level," he said. "If it was a big distraction on my play, then no, I wouldn't wear it. But they're making it look cool. They're making it look like it's a normal helmet now with the details and the decaling that they're doing. I would definitely try it out and if it wasn't hindering my play, then it would definitely be a high possibility that I would have worn one."

Guardian Caps in the NFL: Rob Gronkowski Weighs In

The Guardian Cap was invented in 2011 and has been shown to reduce concussions in training camp by more than 50%. According to the NFL, if both players involved in helmet-to-helmet contact are wearing the cap, the force of the impact is lowered by at least 20%. If only one player is wearing the cap, the impact is reduced by 10%.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins expressed support for players who choose to wear the Guardian Cap, even though he personally does not plan to wear it. "I'm always open to anything that can help player safety, which is ultimately the most important thing in the game," Cousins said.

Guardian Caps in the NFL: Rob Gronkowski Weighs In

The NFL has reported that Guardian Caps worn during training camp practices in 2023 helped the league realize a seven-year low in training-camp concussions. NFL Chief Medical Officer Dr. Allen Sills stated that the league expects to see Guardian Caps being worn in regular-season games this year.

As the NFL continues to explore ways to improve player safety, the Guardian Cap is one device that could potentially make a significant impact on concussion rates. Only time will tell whether players like Gronkowski and Cousins will embrace the use of the cap in the future.