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The National Football League made a major move toward player safety in 2020 when Guardian Caps were introduced. Just two years later, they were made mandatory for select positions in practices.
But history is changing once again, as Houston Texans safety Jalen Pitre has been named the first-ever NFL Guardian athlete.
“I think the biggest thing is just spreading the message that football is important to me, and it needs to be played the right way with the right things. Guardian Cap is the league and NCAA sponsor, and it is the right way to protect yourself,” Pitre told Digital in a recent interview. “I believe that I should be wearing them and that others should be wearing them as well. I also want to spread the message to the kids who don’t get to see our practices, where we wear them regularly.”
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Jalen Pitre of the Houston Texans lines up during an NFC Divisional Playoff game against the New England Patriots at Gillette Stadium on Jan. 18, 2026, in Foxborough, Massachusetts. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Pitre’s decision was an easy one as he continued to wear the cap, which is now mandatory in padded practices for everyone but quarterbacks. As a safety, he is getting down-and-dirty often, and he felt a difference right away.
“They want to protect us so everyone can make it to the game healthy. I want to make it home healthy as well, so why not take an extra step and wear it in the game as well? Having a cap on allows your head to absorb hits better and makes the hits on top of your head a lot softer,” Pitre said.
Houston Texans safety Jalen Pitre waits for play to begin in the first quarter during an NFL game against the Las Vegas Raiders on Dec. 21, 2025, at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas. (Leslie Plaza Johnson/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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It’s not common for now, but Pitre believes that the Guardian Cap can, and will, become a mainstay.
“I see it as an evolution of the game. I feel like Guardian cap is going to be congruent with football eventually and integrated into how they make helmets. It will be the new norm, and when my kids play football, they will all have Guardian Caps, and nobody will think anything of it,” he said.
“Even if you look at the helmets they used to make compared to the helmets now, it’s a complete change.”
Pitre knows that it’s difficult to convince others to wear the cap, as it’s not exactly the most stylish-looking piece of clothing. However …
Stefon Diggs of the New England Patriots runs with the ball against Jalen Pitre of the Houston Texans during an NFC Divisional Playoff game at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, on Jan. 18, 2026. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
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“If I’m making plays and doing well in it,” Pitre, fresh off a career-high four interceptions, said, “it looks cool, and it will be easier for others to follow.”
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