The Guardian Cap has so far been the exception in NFL games. For 2026, the NFL has allowed a new version of the unusual helmet. This is a real upgrade, especially visually.

A new helmet soon to conquer the NFL?

Guardian caps have been permitted in the NFL since 2022, most recently also in games. But the unusual helmet with its padded look has not exactly been a hit among players so far.

Last season, only 20 NFL professionals used a guardian cap in games.

This could change in 2026: As the manufacturer Guardian announced, the NFL has officially approved the new Guardian Cap NXT 2.0 as a helmet in games for the coming season.

The main difference to the previous, single-colored version of the head protection: the new Guardian Cap has a much more variable look.

This means that team logos, numbers or other decorations are now possible directly on the side of the cap, among other things. In the past, an additional cover had to be worn over the head protection for this purpose.

Guardian cap in the NFL: mandatory in training, permitted in games

As in the past, the new regulations make guardian caps mandatory for players of all positions except quarterbacks, kickers and punters in all contact drills during training sessions from the preseason to the postseason.

The use in games remains optional. What is new is that teams and players have the choice between the previous version and the new version.

Manufacturer Guardian promises improved protection against head injuries with its Guardian Caps. However, a joint study conducted by the NFL and the NFL Players Association in 2025 came to the conclusion that the benefits of the Guardian Cap are “uncertain”.

Written by Thomas Maier