Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback Kenny Pickett is wearing a new type of helmet that just might help address the NFL’s ongoing issue with concussions and other head-related injuries.
Mark Kaboly of The Athletic spoke to Pickett about his helmet of choice, the VICIS ZERO2, which has drawn immense praise as well as a reputation for being the best football helmet design to help combat concussions.
Here are photos of Pickett, who suffered two concussions last year, trying out the VICIS ZERO2 from last month:
Per Kaboly, the helmet was specifically designed to help reduce concussions on quarterbacks:
“The standard Zero2 Matrix helmet, which is designed to reduce the severity of helmet-to-helmet impacts, received a five-star rating in the Virginia Tech rating system and scored 82 percent better than the average five-star helmet.
The quarterback-specific version (the Zero2 Matrix QB) is designed to reduce the severity of helmet-to-ground impacts, which league data says accounted for approximately half of the quarterback concussions in 2022 — part of an 18 percent rise in concussions last season — including both of Pickett’s. Tests showed more than a 20 percent mitigation of impact for helmet-to-ground hits compared to the standard helmet.”
Pickett suffered his first concussion during the third quarter of the Steelers’ Week 6 home game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Mitch Trubisky came on in relief and led Pittsburgh to a stunning 20-18 win over Tom Brady and company.
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In Week 14 against the Baltimore Ravens (a 16-14 loss), Pickett left the game after suffering a concussion. Trubisky started the following game against the Carolina Panthers, a 24-16 Pittsburgh win.
“They said that was the best one for quarterbacks, so I said, ‘Fine, give it to me,” Pickett said, via Kaboly.
Concussions in sports like hockey, football, MMA and soccer have been a well-documented concern for more than a decade now. The terrifying data of CTE (caused by blows to the head) have only added to the need for sports leagues and medical experts to somehow make games safer.
Here’s hoping Pickett’s helmet choice will be a key starting point in further combatting the issue.
