GAINESVILLE, Fla. — Along with new coaches, a new playbook and new responsibilities as a starting quarterback, Anthony Richardson also has a new helmet, which fans ask about in varying degrees of bluntness.
Is there something different about Richardson’s helmet?
What’s up with Richardson’s new helmet?
Why is Anthony Richardson wearing such an ugly helmet?
“I think I look supercool in it,” Richardson said. “It’s different. Some people hate it, but I like things that are different. I’m walking on the field like a superhero with a ‘Halo’ helmet.”
Anthony Richardson likes the “supercool” look of the Axiom helmet and said it also helps him see the field. (Hannah White, with inset photo by Tim Casey: UAA Communications)It’s the new Axiom model from Riddell, which a company spokesperson described as the “first fully implemented smart helmet.” That’s because it features internal sensors — embedded in film-like strips — that measure the G-force of every hit, and through an app, can send alerts to medical staff when a blow surpasses a preset threshold. For neuroscientists and many in the helmet manufacturing business, 95 Gs seems to be the point at which concussions become more likely.
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The data collection software warns teams about collisions that may be obstructed by the pile or hits that didn’t appear violent in real-time. It also delivers customizable analytics to measure compounding hits over the course of practices and games. An NCAA study released in 2021 found that 72 percent of concussions occurred in practice. The organization subsequently reduced the maximum of full-contact preseason practices from 21 to 18 and banned drills that encourage straight-line contact.
The padding inside the Axiom helmet is unique to each player, shaped by five minutes in a scan-to-fit hood that measures 285 points to produce a 3D image of the head. That tailored liner delivers a precision fit and removes the need for equipment staffers to inflate or deflate padding based on temperature fluctuations.
“Some guys have weirdly shaped heads, so it’s hard to get a helmet that fits exactly right,” said Gators equipment director Jeff McGrew. “These scanned helmets really help, because you’re building something that’s perfect for that particular guy’s head.”
Through a soft launch conducted last spring, Riddell made a handful of Axioms available to NFL teams and college programs. McGrew said players volunteered to test the helmets with the goal of learning,“Do you like it ? Do you love it? Is this what you want to roll with?”
Richardson instantly liked his, as did nose tackle Desmond Watson, who switched from the SpeedFlex model that most players on the roster wear. “Des told us he noticed that the impact felt lessened a lot,” assistant equipment director Jake Taccone said. “The SpeedFlex didn’t fit him correctly. He was sort of between a large and an XL.”
Nose tackle Desmond Watson switched from the SpeedFlex model (right) that most players on the roster wear. (Jordan McKendrick, left, and Isabella Marley / UAA Communications)During preseason camp, edge rusher Brenton Cox switched to the Axiom, and two new adopters, outside linebackers Chief Borders and Jack Pyburn, began using their helmets last week. (Ohio State’s C.J. Stroud and Oklahoma’s Dillon Gabriel are using the Axiom, as is Cowboys running back Ezekiel Elliott.)
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The technology on the inside may be cutting-edge, but the exterior design is what fans notice. So do players. “It’s hit or miss as to whether they love the style or hate it,” Taccone said. “No one’s really in-between.”
Edge rusher Brenton Cox switched to the Axiom helmet during preseason camp. (Isabella Marley / UAA Communications)The most jarring change — that gives off a futuristic vibe or resembles a motorcycle helmet — is the absence of the top bar across the brim of the helmet. The Axiom also removes the sidebars from the facemask, an aspect Richardson loves because it expands his peripheral vision, which can help him avoid earhole shots.
“You’d think those are just little bars on the side, but take them away and you’re amazed at the difference in field of vision,” Taccone said.
Richardson said the Axiom felt weirdly panoramic, “because I wasn’t expecting it to have so much vision. I feel like I can see the whole field now.”
The Axiom is designed to be worn with a visor, which Richardson has removed during some of the hotter preseason practices. He’ll use it in games as necessary protection from defenders’ fingers.
The visor became a dealbreaker for 6-foot-8, 373-pound freshman Kamryn Waites, who experimented with the Axiom during spring. His customized liner — the one from the 3D scan — was transplanted into a SpeedFlex shell.
“Every year there’s a new product coming out and we’re talking with companies to stay ahead with all this concussion stuff to make the game more safe,” McGrew said. “The plan is we’ll have some guys in the Axiom this year, and if they like it, we’ll add more.”
Supply-chain issues are curbing Riddell’s mass rollout this fall, though orders are brisk for the Axiom, which costs around $800 per helmet. (Richardson’s in-game backup helmet will be the SpeedFlex he wore last year.) By the time deliveries pick up in 2023, the aesthetic of the Axiom might be more accepted.
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Looks matter. In 2002, when the Riddell Revolution models debuted, they were the first to feature the wrap-around jaw protection. NFL players raved about the feel, fit and increased protection from concussions. But early versions failed to gain traction because they failed the “mirror test.” To the surprise of engineers and executives alike, insulating the brain wasn’t enough to convince players to wear something that looked funky.
Ultimately the Revolution was good enough for Peyton Manning, Larry Fitzgerald and Dwight Freeney. If players like Richardson ball out this fall, there can be no better marketing.
“The guys are always hating on me for the way it looks, but I don’t really care about that,” said Richardson, who was in concussion protocol after last season’s Georgia game. “This helmet fits perfect.”
(Top photo of Anthony Richardson wearing his new helmet during Florida’s spring game in April: Peter Joneleit / Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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