ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. — An extra layer of protection to prevent head injuries isn't entirely new in the NFL. It just might seem like it.
The NFL, back in April, announced that it would allow players to wear Guardian Caps during all regular-season games. The move was an attempt to increase player health and safety and prevent head injuries.
Six players wore Guardian Caps during preseason games last weekend, according to the Washington Post. Five of those players are on the Indianapolis Colts; the sixth was Pittsburgh Steelers guard James Daniels, who lined up against the Buffalo Bills last Saturday.
This isn't the first time protective measures were allowed in the fight against head injuries, though. And, as always, there's a Western New York connection.
Mark Kelso played safety for the Bills from 1986 to 1993. He played in all four of Buffalo's Super Bowls and later served as the color commentator for the Bills Radio Network for more than a decade.
Kelso also wore a helmet that featured an extra shell. It was created to offer better protection against head injuries, and now that helmet is housed in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, Ohio.
"He autographed the helmet and gave it to his teammate and Hall of Fame quarterback Jim Kelly. Years later, Kelly donated the helmet along with numerous other pieces of memorabilia to the Hall of Fame," the Pro Football Hall of Fame wrote on its website.
"We now have two years of data showing significant concussion reductions among players who wear Guardian Caps during practice so players will be permitted to wear the cap during games this upcoming season," Jeff Miller, an NFL executive vice president who oversees player health and safety, said in a statement back in April.
"Additionally, there are new helmets this year that provide as much, if not more, protection than a different helmet model paired with a Guardian Cap. These developments represent substantial progress in our efforts to make the game safer for players."