For decades, NFL players could choose whether or not to wear thigh and knee pads, and many did not, claiming that the pads slowed them down. The league, however, made thigh and knee pads mandatory in 2013.
The league is reminding players of this requirement as the 2021 season begins.
“NFL Football Operations reminded general managers, head coaches, and equipment managers that all players must adhere to the league’s mandatory thigh and knee padding rule.”
Every season, the league emphasizes this rule as part of its efforts to save players from unnecessary trouble and ensure that the game is presented professionally following NFL standards,” according to the league’s Operations website.
Some players vowed to break the rule when it was established, saying they would not allow officials to tell them what to wear. But that was a meaningless threat because officials have the authority to remove a player from the game if he rejects to wear pads.
That hasn’t happened yet, and the NFL’s reminder is intended to ensure that thigh and knee pads aren’t an issue in the future.
NFL Players are Required to Wear Knee Pads
Knee pads and helmets that meet minimum standards are mandatory. Shoulder pads, thigh and knee pads are mandatory equipment and must be worn by all players, except punters and kickers.
Knee and thigh pads were once optional; now, players who refuse to wear them risk being ejected, and helmets, knee pads, thigh pads, and shoulder pads are even required to be worn during pre-game warm-ups.
Other optional protective gear includes mouthguards. Some sources say they MAY help prevent concussions. In contrast, others say that unless the mouthguard is custom-fitted by a dentist, a player wearing an “over the counter” mouthguard was more than twice probable to suffer mild traumatic brain injuries.
So since there is no consensus AND the players don’t like to wear them, the players don’t wear them.
Unlike knee pads, where the consensus is achieved.
How Does the Mandatory Knee Pads Rule Work?
Few people were fully aware of this fact when it first came up. Even some of the players appeared to be perplexed.
But here’s the main point: Players who do not wear thigh or knee pads are not permitted to participate in games. Period. That is all there is to it.
No playing if you don’t have thigh or knee pads.
Suppose a player is not wearing the required padding during a game:
1. An NFL equipment monitor informs the back judge at the next stop in play (the back judge is the one who comes to the sideline to work with television personnel during commercial timeouts).
2. The back judge informs the referee, who informs the head coach, that the player isn’t eligible until the pads are on.
Hip and buttock pads are still available as an option.
It’s a good idea to make the pads mandatory. Actually, it’s a no-brainer. It will prevent unnecessary damage to the knees and thighs. It may also aid in the reduction of concussions.
Consider the following scenario: A padded knee hitting a helmeted head may differ from a knee accidentally hitting a helmeted head.
“It’s a philosophical shift,” one coach explained. “We don’t let players play without helmets or shoulder pads because we don’t want to risk thigh bruises or worse.”
Even in 2021, some players are still opposed to the new rules.
In fact, none of the three veterans I spoke with this week knew that not having the pads meant they wouldn’t be able to play. It appears that the fact that this rule is no longer theoretical has not yet sunk into the entire player base.
One player told me that some players intend to sneak onto the field without their pads during games. I wish you luck with that.
“This rule is stupid,” one veteran observed, “and the game is now going to slow down dramatically.”
He isn’t referring to the passage of time. He’s referring to speed.
It was a common complaint that the game would slow down, but was this true?
Absolutely not.
Padding is now so light that it has a negligible effect on speed. Some players have already begun to wear them.
The newer pads were tested at recent Pro Bowls before being worn by Baltimore players Ed Reed and Bernard Pollard during the Super Bowl.
“This didn’t stop them from making plays, and it didn’t stop them from winning the Lombardi Trophy,” one trainer said.
What does the game look like now that knee pads are required? It appears to be the same. It’s still fast-paced, violent, and visually stunning, only with a little more padding.
Why Don’t Some Players Like Wearing Knee Pads?
Merton Hanks was a safety in the NFL for nearly a decade. He was a devastating weapon for the San Francisco 49ers in the 1990s, routinely turning interceptions into big gains. He was a four-time Pro Bowler who also won a Super Bowl.
Hanks wore thigh and kneepads for the majority of his career. Many players didn’t, but Hanks was always confident that the extra security kept him safe. Hanks discovered that he was prone to thigh bruises if he didn’t wear them.
Did the padding slow him down?
In an interview with CBSSports.com, he said, “Yes, back then.” “However, the padding is now lighter.”
The fact that padding is lighter is a key point in an issue that is now receiving little attention but was critical when it was first introduced.
Hanks, who is now the NFL’s vice president of football operations, was one of the people in charge of overseeing the new rule’s implementation.
However, many players used only to wear a helmet and shoulder pads. Knee and thigh pads were too bulky and heavy. Heavy is slow, and slow players don’t last very long in the NFL.
Today’s players wear lighter foam pads, and some cushions can be incorporated into uniforms or undergarments without adding too much weight or bulk. Because for the majority of players, less is more.
When you watch games, you’ll notice that skill position players (aside from the quarterback) wear as little as possible. QBs frequently wear rib and hip protection because they are frequently hit and don’t have the ability to brace themselves for a fall.
Offensive linemen frequently wear knee braces because of the tremendous torque and risk of twisting on their knees. The brace, however, is no padding.
Players also use mouthpieces because they are the only thing that can help prevent concussions.
However, some players believe that the thigh and knee pads do not provide adequate protection compared to the impact on their movement and speed. And that the same amount of protection is provided by minimal, compression-type garments.
NFL Players Wear Mostly These Two Knee Pads
With all of the falling and diving that comes with football, it’s only a matter of time before players sustain a major knee injury.
Because of the critical nature of the sport, every player in possession of the ball is at risk of being hit hard.
There were 1.1 million emergency room visits from players injured during play between 2001 and 2005.
However, more players have retired due to knee injuries than any other type of injury.
As a result, if players don’t protect your knees with reliable knee pads, they’re risking your life, football career, and love of the game.
These are two football knee pads NFL players wear. Why don’t you take a look and maybe protect your knees if you also play?
1. Schutt Sports Vinyl-Dipped Skilled-Position Football Knee Pad
The Schutt Sports Vinyl-Dipped Football Knee Pad is one of the best knee pads primarily designed for football that NFL players wear.
This knee pad is made of high-quality vinyl material, an appealing feature. This material is what makes this knee pad truly long-lasting.
The vinyl material used in this product has a soft touch on the knees, making it comfortable despite its durability.
Wearing this knee pad is truly pleasurable. It also has a user-friendly and lightweight design.
2. Adams USA Tuff Light Knee Pad Set
If you’re looking for a knee pad set, this particular product from ADAMS USA is what NFL players usually have in their locker.
Like the knee pads previously mentioned, this knee pad set is lightweight. This assures athletes that wearing it on the field is never difficult.
Because of its lightness, there’s no need to be concerned about this product restricting your movements as a player.
It provides comfort and lightness because it includes a foam cushion that protects the knee during impacts.
The product is just the right size for the majority of football players. Another noteworthy feature of this knee pad is its ability to perform its function of providing excellent knee protection to a variety of users.
It can even help athletes who are a little heavier protect their knees.
