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First soft leather helmet
The arrival of what is known as a helmet came in the 1900s with the introduction of a soft leather skull cap. This was not required but was opptionally worn by some. -
The first hardened leather helmet was created
The first hardened leather helmet was created. Although it was still not required it helped slightly decrease impact vs not wearing anything during games -
John T. Riddell produces the first plastic suspension helmet
In 1939 John Tate Riddell introduced and patented the first plastic suspension helmet into the football world. This helmet had a plastic shell with a webbed supsension to help even furthur develop more protection for players from impacts during the game but the plastic was brittle easily broke. During World War 2 plastic became scarce and he wasnt able to produce it but the US goverenment was given a liscense by Riddell to produce plastic supended military helmets based off Riddell's idea. -
Chin straps introduced
It replaced the strap that preivously was worn around the Adam's apple to keep the helmet on. -
The NFL requires players to wear helmets
NFL required players to wear helmets in 1943 although the rule only applied to the new incoming players and old players were allowed to still play without a helmet. The last player who played without a helmet on was Dick Plasman -
Plastic helmets are the offical new helmet for NFL
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Single bar facemask were added to plastic helmets
They were created by Riddell and made out of rubber and plastic. This also came aboout with the requirement of wearing facemask in order to play unless given specail premission by the commissioner -
Facemask are worn by all NFL players
Bobby Layne was the last NFL player to play with an open faced helmet retiring in 1962. -
Riddell adds air blaaders inside of plastic helmets
Air bladders help to further decrease the impact of a blow by providing cushion and a more closley fitted hlemet to the head. -
Full facemask introduced
Helped to decrease the number of broken noses as shielded entire face. -
First polycarbon helmet
It is better than the plastic helmet because it is lighter weight but also a stronger material. Also it can be painted different colors and have logos applied to it. -
HITs concussion system is created by Riddell
Stands for Head Impact Telemetry System which is a concussion sensor that measures where the blow has occured, how long it occured for,and what force it occured at. Eventually it leads to development of Riddell Insite -
Single bar helmets offically banned by NFL
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Chin strap included impact sensors
Calculates the force and how long the blow to the head was then relyes the information to the coaches and trainers. When a hit has been detected a red light flashes on the chin strap letting the coaches and trainers know that the player has suffered a large impact. -
Impakt develops Shockbox
Impakt developed the Shockbox concussion sensor for football helmets. When a player expriences a blow to the head hard enough to cause a possible concussion a message is sent to the trainer's smart phone on the sidelines to see if the player needs to be evaulated or not. The sensor also keeps a hit count that is sent to the trainer's phone. -
Riddell Insite is created
Based of the HITS system and then SRS (sideline response system). The Insite has a monitoring phone that sends alerts to the trainers when a player has recieved a blow hard enough to be checked out. It also contains sensors placed in the helmet and allows player history to be kept on a computer -
Reebok Checklight sensor introduced
This sensor indicates the severity of the blow by either a yellow light for mild hit or red light for a hard hit indicating to the trainers and coaches on the sidelines if a player needs to be evaluated for a concussion
