US EditionPublished • loading... • Updated
NFL Launches Challenge to Improve Facemasks and Reduce Concussions
The NFL offers up to $100,000 and development support to innovators aiming to reduce concussions by redesigning facemasks, addressing a rise to 44% of impacts last season.
- On Feb 6, 2026 the NFL announced the next round of the HealthTECH Challenge at a Super Bowl innovation summit in San Francisco to improve facemasks.
- A surge in facemask-related concussions meant 44% of in-game concussions resulted from facemask impacts this past season, up from 29% in 2015, while most prior safety gains came from shell and padding improvements.
- The challenge invites inventors, engineers, startups, academic teams and established companies to submit facemask impact-protection designs, with winners receiving up to $100,000 and expert development support.
- The NFL expects to evaluate new helmet-component solutions, building on past HealthTECH challenges that raised equipment standards and helped reduce concussions.
- By combining broad participation with funding and support, the HealthTECH Challenge invites inventors and companies to accelerate facemask innovation with $100,000 in aggregate funding.
Insights by Ground AI
31 Articles
31 Articles
NFL launches challenge to improve facemasks, reduce concussions
SAN FRANCISCO — The NFL is challenging innovators to improve the facemask on football helmets to reduce concussions in the game. The league announced on Friday at an innovation summit for the Super Bowl the next round in the HealthTECH Challenge series, a crowdsourced competition designed to accelerate the development of cutting-edge football helmets and new standards for player safety. The challenge invites inventors, engineers, startups, acade…
·Canada
Read Full ArticleCoverage Details
Total News Sources31
Leaning Left14Leaning Right1Center9Last UpdatedBias Distribution58% Left
Bias Distribution
- 58% of the sources lean Left
58% Left
L 58%
C 38%
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
