Colts' Kylen Granson Explains Why He's Wearing a Guardian Cap This Season: 'I Want to Be Able to Remember'

Mar. 15, 2025

Indianapolis Colts tight end Kylen Granson (83).Photo:John Mersits/CSM/Shutterstock

John Mersits/CSM/Shutterstock

Colts' tight end Kylen Granson is encouraging football players to wear guardian caps for extra head protection on the field.

After the 25-year-old NFL player made headlines for deciding to wear the protective equipment during the regular season, Granson shared his thoughtful reasons why in avideoshared on Instagram.

Granson said the guardian cap was “first introduced last year,” and became a requirement for “most of the offensive line and the defensive line,” to wear during practices.

“Other positions had the option to keep wearing it,” said Granson, adding, “all it is is a little extra padding on the side of the helmet.”

“The thought was, ‘Hey, let’s reduce the impact of the head-to-head contact in practice,” Granson explained.

The tight end detailed what happens to players’ brains when they take contact during games and practices, noting that even the smaller impact hits to his head can add up and create long term health issues.

“It was successful enough that the league is now allowing us players the option to wear it during the regular season, and for me it was a no-brainer, I just said yes, I want to wear it the whole season.”

“Why would I not add a safety measure onto my helmet?” Granson said in the video. “Anything I can do to mitigate any sort of brain injury or long term health effects that would be detrimental to me takes precedent,” he added.

The Colts tight end continued, “As someone who wants to have kids some day, I want them to also know that dad isn’t just telling you to be safe, he’s also safe when he played. He did everything he could to protect his head, protect his brain,” adding that safety is the most important thing, “no matter how dumb” a piece of equipment may look.

“Theres no amount of cool that would be worth walking into a hospital room and your child’s in a vegetative state because they didn’t want to wear a helmet,” said Granson.

“I’m going to get married this coming year. I want to be able to remember our first dance 30 years from now. I want to be able to remember my first kids steps, I want to be there at their first day of school.”

Daisy Foko (L) and Kylen Granson.Eric Charbonneau/Getty

Eric Charbonneau/Getty

Granson said while other players have complained, he’s “never had a problem” with wearing the cap, and says it doesn’t disrupt his vision on the field or add any extra noticeable weight.

“Health and safety is also cool,” the football player told his followers in the video message.

The discourse around concussion protocol and safety in the NFL comes just after Miami Dolphins quarterbackTua Tagovailoasuffered another scary concussion during a game.

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On Thursday, Sept. 12, Tagovailoa, 26, lowered his head and ran into an opponent who tackled him. After the collision, the quarterback was then helped off the field.

Tua Tagovailoa #1 of the Miami Dolphins.Carmen Mandato/Getty

Carmen Mandato/Getty

In 2022, Tagovailoa missed multiple gamesdue to concussions. He first absorbed a hit in September that left the Dolphins star unable to stand, though the team cleared him to return for the second half. Four days later, Tagovailoa endured a second hit to the head that left him unconscious and with a concussion, putting Tagovailoa at the center of debate over concussion protocols in the NFL.

The quarterback sat out two games following that hit, and then suffered another diagnosed concussion during a Dec. 25th game against the Green Bay Packers later that season.

source: people.com