Home / Sports / NFL Tackles Helmet Safety: Facemask Redesign Challenge Launched
NFL Tackles Helmet Safety: Facemask Redesign Challenge Launched
9 Feb
Summary
- NFL launches a challenge for new facemask designs to improve player safety.
- Facemask hits cause 44% of concussions, a significant increase since 2015.
- Winners can receive up to $100,000 and technical support for their designs.
The National Football League has initiated a significant effort to bolster player safety by addressing an often-overlooked component of football helmets: the facemask. Launched at a recent Super Bowl innovation event, the HealthTECH Challenge specifically targets the redesign of facemasks to better mitigate head injuries. This competition is an open call to startups, universities, engineers, and companies with novel ideas for impact absorption.
This initiative stems from concerning trends in concussion data. While helmet shell and padding technologies have advanced, facemasks have remained largely unchanged. Data from the most recent season indicates that 44% of in-game concussions involved hits to the facemask, a sharp increase from 29% in 2015. This suggests that as helmets become more protective overall, the facemask has become a critical vulnerability.
NFL executive Jeff Miller emphasized the league's desire to engage a wide range of expertise beyond the traditional helmet industry. Engineers and material science specialists are encouraged to submit proposals, with the potential to win substantial prizes, including up to $100,000 in funding and technical support. The league plans to announce winners in August, with the hope that successful designs can be implemented soon after.
