Steelers Wear Guardian Helmet Covers at Minicamp

PITTSBURGH — When the Steelers took to the field at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side for mandatory minicamp on Tuesday, things looked an awful lot different than they had a week ago at OTAs.

Yes, the full squad was in attendance for the first time this spring, but to an observer, the big difference was obvious. The Steelers, as part of an NFL mandate, are wearing Guardian helmet covers during minicamp.

The change is part of a league mandate, passed through the competition committee this spring, to require the helmet covers for certain position groups at certain times of the year.

The Steelers are going all in on them right away, with nearly every player wearing one for the first day of minicamp on Tuesday.

“We’re going to adhere to the rules,” said head coach Mike Tomlin, a competition committee member. “It’s a new rule. It’s for their safety and so we don’t run away from those things, we run to those things. We’re going to make it a non-issue for us about the work that we do.”

The covers are soft shells that go over the outside of a player’s normal helmet. The manufacturer told ESPN that they can reduce head contact in practice by 20%.

“It’s supposed to reduce the impact on us and concussions, things of that nature,” said tight end Pat Freiermuth, who spent time in the NFL concussion protocol last season. “I think it’ll be good for us.”

Of course, as with almost everything on the football field, several players also had an opinion of the helmet covers, which may bring them to bear a passing resemblance to The Great Gazoo from the Flintstones.

“Feeling kind of bigheaded, you know what I’m saying?” linebacker Marcus Allen joked to Steelers.com.

“You see how big the helmets gotta be? Crazy,” Najee Harris said.

“We’re wearing refrigerators today,” Diontae Johnson added.

"We're wearing refrigerators today." 🤣 pic.twitter.com/l7be7i8gtL

— Pittsburgh Steelers (@steelers) June 7, 2022

Chris Carter contributed.