Updates

The NFL has launched the NFL Helmet Challenge, an innovation challenge that aims to fund the development of new helmet designs. The league will offer up to $3 million in funding and awards to experts, innovators and helmet manufacturers who take part.

The challenge will kick off at a symposium in Youngstown, Ohio, Nov. 13-15. The symposium will bring together experts from different industries to share their knowledge and work collaboratively on new helmet ideas.

Between the kickoff symposium and the submission of helmet prototypes for final evaluation in May 2021, applicants will have access to a range of resources to support their projects, including up to $2 million in HeadHealthTECH Challenge grant funding. Finalists will compete for an award of up to $1 million.

"The NFL Helmet Challenge represents an unprecedented combination of financing, research, data and engineering expertise in an effort to create a more protective helmet," said Jeff Miller, the NFL's Executive Vice President for Health and Safety Innovation. "Innovation can be catalyzed if we engage with creative and talented people from across disciplines to attack this challenge together. In collaboration with the NFL Players Association, we are making changes on and off the field in an effort to improve protection for every player."

This challenge is part of the NFL’s Engineering Roadmap, which aims to encourage innovators and manufacturers to develop new protective equipment.

Registration for the symposium is open until Oct. 2. Visit the Play Smart Play Safe website to request an invitation to attend.