Why does Patrick Mahomes have a different helmet than most NFL players?

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes always turns heads on the field thanks to his signature, one-of-a-kind helmet.

Mahomes’ helmet is not typical of the NFL, it is much larger and bulkier than standard, and it is even much larger than his head.

Here’s why Mahomes chose this particular helmet.

Patrick Mahomes’ special helmet explained

Mahomes wears a Riddell SpeedFlex helmet, which is known to be one of the safest helmets in the league. Mahomes and other quarterbacks choose to wear this type of helmet to reduce the risk of concussions and other head injuries.

Additionally, Mahomes intentionally wears his helmet higher than most players so that it doesn’t slip down over his eyes, obstructing his vision. Because the helmet is larger than normal, it has the potential to slip off at high speeds. Sometimes the helmet will fall forward, obstructing his vision while playing. As a precaution, Mahomes wears his helmet higher than his head.

In American football, the quarterback (abbreviated as QB) is a key position in the offensive team and is considered the “heart” of the team. They are the main passer and coordinator of the game. These players must have a wide vision and require very good observation skills. Therefore, they are the subject of special care from opponents. This makes Mahomes and other quarterbacks often choose large helmets to limit the impact of collisions, while not obstructing vision when running.

Why does Patrick Mahomes wear his helmet so high? Chiefs star has unique gear at Super Bowl LIX

Patrick Mahomes is one of the biggest stars in the NFL, and having so many eyes on him means fans will notice all those small details.

The Chiefs’ superstar quarterback stands out every time he steps on the field and the spotlight will be on him again at Super Bowl LIX.

Mahomes always wears his helmet higher up than other players
Mahomes, a three-time MVP, is arguably the best player in the league today and certainly one of the most recognisable.

He stands out with his curly hair, but also due to the fact he wears his helmet so high up his head.

Why does Mahomes wear his helmet so high?

Mahomes wears his helmet high on his head for multiple reasons.

One of those is due to safety – something high on his agenda, as detailed during an exclusive interview with talkSPORT.com.

As Mahomes is a quarterback, he is at high risk of receiving strong tackles that may cause unfortunate head injuries.

So, the NFL star wears a helmet that is bigger than the usual one, with it being specially designed to protect against concussions – similarly to guardian caps.

His gear is made by a company called VICIS, and Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa uses the same brand too.

According to laboratory tests conducted by the NFL and NFLPA in 03, VICIS have the five highest-performing helmets when it comes to reducing the severity of head impacts.

Mahomes opts to have his helmet higher than other playersCredit: Reuters
So, therefore his bigger and specialised helmet means he has a much lower chance of picking up an injury.

A drawback of the bigger helmet, though, is the fact it can be more of an obstruction.

And Mahomes has had issues in the past with his helmet.

The Kansas City star used to complain that his helmet would slip down and obstruct his vision.

So, to resolve this, he started wearing it further up his head to ensure he got the full protection but could also see and dictate the game from anywhere on the field.

It’s a subtle change, but it’s obviously helped his game, considering he’s now a three-time Super Bowl champion.

Mahomes has had another strong season with the Chiefs who are now one win away from winning their third straight Super Bowl title.

They will face the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday, February 9 in New Orleans.

talkSPORT will have live coverage of the game

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