Chloe Zhang
The plastic visor, or eye shield, is an important piece of safety equipment in the NFL, protecting players from glare and eye injuries. While the football helmet has been around since the early 1900s, the visor is a more recent addition, invented in the 1980s. The first player to use a protective visor is believed to have been Mark Mullaney of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings in 1984, who wore it to protect a healing eye injury. The visor's primary purpose is to protect players' eyes from mud, sand, fingers, cleats, and even grass, which can cause severe eye damage, especially during collisions.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Inventor of the plastic visor | It is believed that the first player to use a protective visor was Mark Mullaney of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings in 1984. |
| Reason for invention | To protect a healing eye injury. |
| Purpose | To add an additional layer of protection for the eyes of players. |
| Materials | Poly-carbonate, synthetic curved material, plastic, polycarbonate shields, APVX material, plutonite, polycarbonate shields, etc. |
| Colors | Amber, blue, metallic silver and golds, black, polarized, rainbow, smoke grey, clear, etc. |
| Tinted visors | Tinted visors are illegal for games unless there is a doctor's note. |
| Oakley partnership | In 2019, the NFL partnered with Oakley to create an official NFL visor. |
| Oakley Prizm technology | Helps enhance color while on the field while maintaining a slight tint. |
| Tinted visors ban | Tinted visors were banned from the NFL for 20 years until 2019 when they became legal again. |
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What You'll Learn
- Plastic helmets were introduced in 1939 by the Riddell Company of Chicago
- The NFL banned plastic helmets in 1948, but lifted the ban in 1949
- The first player to wear a protective visor was Mark Mullaney of the Minnesota Vikings in 1984
- Tinted visors are banned in the NFL, except for players with eye problems
- In 2019, the NFL partnered with Oakley to create an official NFL visor
Plastic helmets were introduced in 1939 by the Riddell Company of Chicago
The introduction of plastic helmets marked a significant shift towards improved safety in the sport. By the mid-1940s, helmets were mandated in the NFL, although they were still made of leather. The NFL initially allowed either plastic or leather helmets, but in 1948, the league banned plastic helmets due to concerns about the hardness of the plastic and a plastic shortage during World War II. However, the ban was lifted just a year later in 1949, and by 1950, plastic helmets had become universal in the league.
The evolution of football helmets continued over the years, with designers focusing on enhancing player comfort, protection, and performance. Different shell materials and internal padding, such as air bladders and multi-layer foam, were introduced. In the 1980s, polycarbonate, a lighter and more durable plastic, became the primary shell material, marking the beginning of the modern football helmet model.
While plastic helmets revolutionized head protection, it is important to note that concussions and other head injuries can still occur despite these advancements. As such, football helmets continue to undergo technological improvements to address these concerns and make the game safer for athletes.
The use of visors, also known as eye shields, further contributed to player safety. Invented in the 1980s, visors are made of synthetic curved material that attaches to the front of the helmet, protecting the eyes from debris and potential eye injuries during collisions. While tinted visors were once banned in the NFL due to concerns about unfair advantages and the need for clear visibility during medical emergencies, they were reintroduced in 2019 with certain restrictions and requirements.
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The NFL banned plastic helmets in 1948, but lifted the ban in 1949
The NFL's ban on plastic helmets in 1948 was short-lived, lasting only a year before it was lifted in 1949. This brief prohibition was a response to safety concerns about the hard-plastic material, which was considered an injury risk to players. However, the ban was lifted due to pressure from teams who believed the benefits of plastic helmets outweighed the risks.
The evolution of the football helmet from leather to plastic began in 1939 when the Riddell Company of Chicago, Illinois, started manufacturing plastic helmets. They believed plastic would be safer than leather, and they were right. Plastic helmets held their shape better during collisions, provided more comfort, and allowed for more padding to cushion the head. By the mid-1940s, helmets became mandatory in the NFL, and the league allowed the use of either plastic or leather helmets.
However, as more teams adopted plastic helmets, concerns grew about the danger they posed to other players. Plastic helmets striking players in the face resulted in increased injuries, including lost teeth, broken noses, and lacerations. This issue led to the NFL's decision to ban plastic helmets in 1948.
Despite the initial concerns, the benefits of plastic helmets were significant. By 1949, the NFL recognised this, and plastic helmets became universal in the league by 1950. This marked the beginning of the end for leather helmets, which were gradually phased out over the next few years.
The NFL's experience with plastic helmets highlights the league's ongoing efforts to balance protection and safety for players. As knowledge about head injuries evolved, so too did the design and requirements of football helmets. This dynamic process has continued into the present day, with ongoing tweaks and adjustments to optimise player safety.
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The first player to wear a protective visor was Mark Mullaney of the Minnesota Vikings in 1984
The first player to wear a protective visor was Mark Mullaney, who played for the Minnesota Vikings in the NFL in 1984. Mullaney wore the visor to protect a healing eye injury.
The visor, also known as an eyeshield, is affixed to the face mask to protect players from glare or eye injuries, such as pokes. It is typically made from a curved piece of plastic or polycarbonate that attaches to the front of a football helmet. The primary purpose of the visor is to add an additional layer of protection for the eyes of players. Mud, sand, fingers, cleats, and even grass can easily find their way into an unprotected helmet, causing severe eye damage.
While Mullaney's visor was tinted, most of the earlier visors were clear or smoked. Today, visors are offered in a variety of styles and colours, including blue, gold, black, rainbow, silver, or amber. However, high school and pee-wee leagues prohibit all but clear visors. This rule was enacted so that training staff and coaches can easily view a player's face and eyes in the case of a serious injury.
In 2019, the NFL partnered with Oakley to create an official NFL visor. As a result, players are now contractually obligated to wear Oakley-branded visors while on the field. Oakley claims that their "Prizm" technology enhances colour while on the field while maintaining a slight tint.
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Tinted visors are banned in the NFL, except for players with eye problems
Tinted visors have been banned in the NFL for several reasons. Firstly, tinted visors can obstruct the view of a player's face and eyes, hindering the ability of training staff and coaches to diagnose and treat injuries effectively. This is especially crucial in situations where there is a potential spinal injury, as removing the helmet and visor is necessary to assess the player's condition. Secondly, tinted visors were deemed to give players an "unfair advantage" over opponents, as they conceal the player's eyes and make it difficult to determine where they are looking or what play they are calling.
However, the NFL does allow exemptions for players with eye problems or other medical conditions to wear tinted visors. To obtain this exemption, players must provide appropriate medical documentation and receive approval from the League office. Notable players who have received special permission to wear tinted visors include LaDainian Tomlinson and Chris Canty, and Ricky Williams, who documented his mental health issues to get approval.
The NFL's rules regarding tinted visors have evolved over time. In 2019, the NFL partnered with Oakley to introduce lightly tinted visors with a pinkish hue, allowing players to benefit from enhanced colour perception while still maintaining visibility. This partnership also addressed safety concerns by ensuring that players' eyes remained visible to medical staff.
The evolution of the football helmet and visor has been a continuous process, with the primary goal of enhancing player safety while adapting to technological advancements. While the football helmet was introduced in the early 1900s, the visor, or eye shield, made of synthetic curved material, was introduced in the 1980s to provide additional eye protection. The visor helps prevent eye injuries caused by mud, sand, fingers, cleats, and other debris that can enter the helmet during play.
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In 2019, the NFL partnered with Oakley to create an official NFL visor
In 2019, the NFL announced a four-year partnership with Oakley, making the company the official on-field partner and licensee of the NFL. This deal is the biggest sports partnership in Oakley's history and gives players on all 32 NFL teams the chance to wear helmets with Oakley shields and eyewear, both powered by Oakley's Prizm Lens Technology.
Oakley's Prizm technology is a light-management technology that enhances colour recognition and improves detail recognition on the football. The technology eliminates areas of colour confusion and heightens sensitivity in certain areas, creating better depth perception for the wearer. The visors will be slightly tinted, with a pink hue, which will allow referees, trainers, and healthcare providers to see into the players' eyes. Oakley claims that their technology will enhance colour while maintaining a slight tint, allowing certain colours like the green of the field and the brown of the ball to stand out more prominently, thereby providing the player with a distinct advantage.
Prior to the Oakley deal, the NFL had banned tinted visors in 1998 for safety reasons, with the exception of a few medical situations. The ban was implemented because doctors and trainers would not be able to see a player's eyes through the tinted shield, which would make it difficult to provide the proper medical help in the event of an injury. The Oakley partnership will allow players to wear tinted visors for the first time since the ban.
The partnership also includes a logo component, with the Oakley logo added to every NFL field. Oakley's Global Marketing Director, Benjamin Goss, expressed his excitement about the partnership, stating that the brand started in stadiums and will now continue its journey inside the biggest and most relevant stadiums in North America.
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Frequently asked questions
It is believed that the first player to use a protective visor was Mark Mullaney of the NFL's Minnesota Vikings in 1984, in order to protect a healing eye injury. The sunglasses company Oakley started making football visors out of polycarbonate and plutonite in the early 1980s.
The primary function of a football visor is protection. While some players wear visors temporarily to prevent damage to an existing injury, others wear them permanently to prevent new injuries.
The NFL has specific rules for wearing football visors on the field. Players without a medical exemption can only wear a clear visor. No "swag" (such as lettering) of any sort is allowed, and referees have been instructed to pay close attention to the visors that players are wearing.
