The players appeared to have allies in Washington. A Senate subcommittee held hearings on misleading safety claims made by sports equipment companies. One thing is certain: it's going to be a long slog for both sides, without a clear endgame. For example, the players are seeking judgments "in the millions of dollars," though no specific numbers have been listed in the court documents. The consensus from lawyers on both sides is that the lawsuits could take years to be sorted out. Nobody associated with the players, the league, or Riddell was even "willing to guess how long it could be" during discussions with the AP. This information is also passed onto the managers, coaches, and medical staff of each team to help players make informed choices about their equipment.

Fans and players rush out to buy the latest models every year, but who are the most famous helmet brands, and which of their models are approved by the NFL? Here is the answer. Side Impact Protection is research-based, mandible protection that helps reduce the forces from side impacts

Ex-NFL Players Sue Helmet Maker Riddell, Claim Company Knew About Concussion Risks by Yesha Callahan, 16 Feb 2016

In 1922 John T Riddell invented the world’s first removable cleats. The company found initial success in manufacturing innovative performance shoes, and in 1939 they invented the “plastic shell” – the world’s first plastic football helmet. It later became the famous Riddell RT2 model. Before the outbreak of WW2, General Patton requested the newly-famous Riddell to get in touch with him at the war department. The army needed to find a support mechanism for their new M1 combat helmet. Riddell rose to the task, and the football manufacturer’s design passed with flying colors. Following the war and buoyed by the success of the 60’s Riddell has gone from strength to strength and is probably the most recognized brand in the sport today. Schutt – A brief history Both helmets are popular, but choices vary based on players and positions. Is an F7 a good lineman helmet? The VICIS ZERO1, worn by Pat Mahomes and Russell Wilson, topped every study it was entered into and was heavily funded by the NFL and players that invested in the company, but nonetheless the company experienced some financial issues and declared bankruptcy in 2019. Reformed under new ownership, and developing a new helmet, VICIS should be worth keeping an eye on. The ZERO1 itself bolstered an astronomical price tag, and coupled with an uncertainty of its obtainability (currently unavailable on the web) and future, it missed our top 5. If you can get your hands on one, you’d be very happy wearing it. Cons– The SpeedFlex Diamond is heavy, heavy, heavy. Coming in at 5 pounds or more, the Diamond is undoubtedly the heaviest helmet on this list. Finals Thoughts– Xenith’s primary focus has always been to combat rotational forces with their bonnet system. If you’re not put off by the aesthetics of the helmet, I would very highly recommend looking into Xenith’s technology.The Speed was basically a coin-flip for the fifth spot on our list. The primary reason the Vengeance Z10 LTD was chosen over the Speed was age. The Speed continues to test well in every major study and is still popular at all levels, but it’s over 10 years old at this point. An older helmet does not equal a bad helmet by any means, but the newer helmet received the #5 spot. We are continually improving the way we gather, analyze and deploy data to try to drive down injuries,” Jeff Miller, the NFL’s EVP of health and safety innovation, said in a statement. The High Strength Spring Stainless Steel (HS4) facemask is thinner and lighter than other Riddell facemasks Riddell’s SpeedFlex Precision Diamond features a customized 3D-printed protective liner inside the helmet. The NFL and NFLPA’s test is conducted by the independent helmet testing laboratory, Biokinetics, in Ottawa, Canada. Research is intended to evaluate which helmets best reduce the severity of head impacts. The study also takes into account years of on-field concussion data provided by the NFL. Models from Xenith, VICIS, and Schutt were also included in the top 10 safest helmets.