Guardian Sports, the Atlanta-based sports safety equipment company behind the NFL-mandated Guardian Cap, today announced a partnership with Houston Texans’ Jalen Pitre, who will support efforts as the first NFL Guardian Athlete. The collaboration aims to further promote athlete safety awareness across all levels of play.
As a Guardian Athlete, Pitre will work alongside Guardian Sports as an advocate for player protection and proactive safety measures in football while encouraging long-term health on and off the field.
After missing time in the 2025 season due to a concussion, Pitre returned to the field during a week 13 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts wearing a Guardian Cap, becoming the first player in Houston Texans history to wear the soft-shell helmet cover during a regular-season game.
“Regardless of the level you play at, protection is the most important thing,” said Jalen Pitre. “Be proactive. Don’t wait until after you get a concussion.” “I wanted to make sure I did everything I could to protect myself,” he said. “This is about continuing to push the game forward. Think about your safety now because that’s what you’ll have when you leave the game.”
Guardian Caps are designed to fit over existing football helmets, adding a soft padded outer layer intended to help reduce the severity of impacts by absorbing and redistributing force. Since their introduction in 2010, Guardian Caps have been adopted across all levels of football as part of ongoing efforts to support player safety and reduce repetitive impacts.
As a Guardian Athlete, Pitre is also partnered with Guardian Sports to donate Guardian Caps to his community, helping equip the next generation of athletes with protective gear and reinforcing his commitment to giving back to the football community that helped shape his career.
“Jalen’s commitment to athlete safety reflects the values at the core of our mission,” said Erin Hanson, CEO and Co-Founder of Guardian Sports. “Young athletes look up to the players they see on Sundays, and Jalen is helping lead the next generation toward a safer future for football. By embracing protection at the highest level of the game, he’s helping normalize athlete safety for kids, parents, and coaches everywhere.”
ABOUT GUARDIAN SPORTS: Founded in 2010, Guardian Sports is on a mission to better protect athletes at every level of play. Its flagship product, the Guardian Cap, was originally developed to reduce head impacts during football practice and has since expanded into game-day use across all levels of play. Guardian Sports also created the LOOP 5-STAR VT rated flag football headband, PEARL lacrosse balls, FLEX chinstrap, and bio-based turf INFILL. Trusted by athletes nationwide, Guardian continues to lead in safety-driven innovation. Learn more at www.guardiansports.com
