• Wed. Feb 19th, 2025

New York Jets Backup Quarterback’s Helmet Change Matter of Safety, Comfort

For most of his football career, New York Jets backup quarterback Tyrod Taylor wore a helmet known as “the bucket.” He had used it for so long that he couldn’t even recall its actual name, but it fit him well.

It wasn’t that Taylor disregarded safety or newer helmet designs. He had tried many models, including those by Vicis and Riddell, known for their safety features, and recognized they were likely safer than his current helmet. However, after 29 years in football, he decided to try a new helmet as he began the 2023 season with the Jets.

This offseason, Taylor was introduced to the LIGHT helmet by a friend, and immediately, it felt right. “Some helmets take time to break in, but this one felt like it had been mine for years after just one workout,” he said.

Founded in 2011, LIGHT specializes in safe, lightweight helmets. Comfort was crucial for Taylor; football helmets are unnatural and vary in fit, even with custom fittings that include 3-D imaging. For Taylor, a simple set of helmet measurements sufficed, but even then, comfort wasn’t guaranteed. Each head has unique pressure points, and constant discomfort is undesirable.

Taylor also valued mobility and clear vision on the field, and the ability to test the helmet during a preseason game against Washington gave him the confidence he needed. After taking a hit to the head, he said, “The comfort of the helmet confirmed everything I had hoped for.”

Taylor saw significant action against Buffalo, completing 11 of 14 passes for 83 yards and two touchdowns in a 40-14 loss. Having experienced a few concussions himself—there are four documented cases in his career—he was motivated to find a safer helmet.

NFL concussions slightly increased in 2023, with 219 reported compared to 213 in 2022. In response, the league has invested heavily in improving helmets and player safety, partly due to the risks of CTE, a condition linked to repeated concussions, and the aftermath of lawsuits, such as the 2013 settlement with retired players. The NFL has also updated its concussion protocols, giving medical professionals the authority to remove players from games if they suspect a concussion.

The league collaborates with VICIS and Riddell to produce helmets aimed at reducing concussion risk, with both brands achieving top rankings in performance tests. LIGHT’s Gladiator LS-Pro also ranked sixth, just behind these models, reflecting its ability to reduce impact severity.

Taylor has long been aware of concussion research, dating back to his college days at Virginia Tech, home to a renowned helmet testing lab. Though he knows that football is inherently physical and injuries are inevitable, he believes the league’s ongoing efforts to improve safety are making a difference.

“Football is just part of our lives. We all want to live fully outside of it,” Taylor said. That’s one reason he chose to invest in LIGHT and join its advisory board, alongside other NFL and former players like Cam Jordan, Jordan Palmer, Drew Stanton, and John Carney.

Through his involvement with LIGHT, Taylor has helped develop safer helmets and has worked to benefit youth football, including his alma mater in Hampton, Virginia. He recently collaborated with LIGHT to provide Gladiator helmets for his former high school, updating their equipment with safer options. His foundation, which focuses on health and wellness, facilitated the donation. “It’s about giving kids a safe helmet,” he said. “I can vouch for this one, and I wanted to help my school get what they needed.”

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