Most football fans have seen the helmets in either NFL or college games, where a small percentage of players wear them. They’re easy to spot because of their size, and because the color usually is slightly different from standard headgear. Olave’s was a shade lighter than the regular gold Saints helmets.
The large devices are called a Guardian Cap. They’ve actually been available since 2010 and are used more often in practices. But Olave explained after the game why he wore one Sunday, and it’s for all the right reasons.
“You all know the head injuries I’ve had in my career,” said Olave, who has had four concussions since joining the Saints, including a string of them in 2024 that made him consider quitting the game. “So, it was just a decision I’ve made. I got kids now. I want to be able to live the long game, it’s not all about football. I want to live regular life after football. I love my kids to death. I don’t really care how it looks and shoot, it did me good today.”
It sure did: Olave caught 10 passes for 182 yards Sunday. The Guardian Cap didn’t have anything to do with that, but the CBSsports website reports that the specialty gear appears to be doing its job by protecting players’ heads.
Nola.com, the Times-Picayune’s website in New Orleans, wrote that Olave started wearing the Guardian Cap — a soft, padded shell that attaches to the exterior of the helmet and adds a second shock absorber — during training camp. On a play when he leapt to catch a ball, he came down hard and hit his head on the ground and felt the difference right away. That convinced him to wear the cap during games.
Good decision. Football has two health problems. One is that everyone who plays gets hurt in some way. The sport basically has a 100% injury rate.
The other is that there are a lot of head injuries, made clear by the number of concussions reported every week during a season. This count has been growing because the NFL and colleges, and hopefully other levels as well, are paying closer attention to players who “get their bell rung” during a game.
CBSsports reported the Guardian Cap’s website claims studies have shown a 54% to 62% reduction in concussions during practice among players who are required to wear the helmet. Further, “Laboratory testing claims protection doubles when both players involved in a collision wear Guardian Caps.”
Widespread evidence of the benefits may not have arrived yet. But it’s only logical to believe the extra padding will reduce damage.
The Guardian Cap has not caught on with many football players yet. Candidly, they are kind of goofy looking. But it’s like Olave said Sunday: If a second shock absorber provides better protection for a player’s head, that should decrease the possibility of brain damage that can be caused by a very violent game.
Each player needs to decide how to protect themselves during a game. But when a top receiver like Olave, along with players like New England wide receiver Romeo Doubs and Houston safety Jalen Pitre, put a priority on their health rather than their helmet, other players are sure to follow. And the Guardian Cap is likely to get better as the years pass and research tells designers how they can improve it.
Jack Ryan is editor and publisher of the McComb Enterprise-Journal.
