The New Orleans Saints have partnered with local high schools in New Orleans to gift their football teams Guardian Caps. Guardian Caps are the padded material seen over the helmets during Saints training camp. These protective measures were originally introduced in 2022 to prevent head injuries and are now mandatory in practice.
De La Salle assistant coach Michael Mosley Sr. said, “This is definitely the beginning and definitely something that was needed. We tried to find different ways to be safe and I think we found something that could help in that regard.”
It was so successful that the NFL is allowing its players to wear these caps to games this year. Unlike training camp, it is optional.
It speaks volumes about how valuable the Guardian Caps are, and the Saints are making sure to pass them on to the younger generation.
Football safety has evolved over the years and has expanded beyond the NFL, with tackling being the best example of this. These lessons are taught to young players because football should not only be about safety at the highest level.
While Guardian Caps aren’t expected to be available at Pop Warner anytime soon, by introducing them at the high school level, the Saints hope to help make the game safer for younger players.
