Texans' Jalen Pitre Becomes Guardian Caps' First Signature Athlete
The safety wore the padded helmet cover in the final eight games of last season after a concussion, and will now advocate for player safety and donate caps to youth athletes.
Houston Texans safety Jalen Pitre has become Guardian Caps' first-ever signature athlete, formalizing a partnership that began after he became the first player in franchise history to wear the padded helmet cover in a regular-season game. "Regardless of the level you play at, protection is the most important thing. Be proactive. Don't wait until after you get a concussion," Pitre said.
What led to this partnership?
Pitre suffered a concussion in Week 9 last season against the Denver Broncos. When he returned three weeks later, he started wearing a Guardian Cap in games, sticking with it through the final eight games of the season. He described the decision as "ultimately a family decision," and explained his reasoning simply: "If the league, the highest level of football, is mandating that we wear something in practice for more security, why not wear it in games?"
What does the deal involve?
As Guardian Caps' signature athlete, Pitre will serve as an advocate for player protection and proactive safety measures in football, and will donate Guardian Caps to his community to help equip younger athletes with protective gear.
How widespread are Guardian Caps in the NFL?
The league first mandated Guardian Caps for practices in 2022, and research has linked their use to a meaningful reduction in overall practice concussions, though the effect on impacts specifically to the helmet shell is less clear-cut. For 2026, teams can choose between the Guardian Cap NXT and a newer, streamlined NXT 2.0 version that's now permitted in games. Only around two dozen players leaguewide wore a Guardian Cap in games last season, making Pitre part of a small but growing group.
Players in this story
Sources
- ESPN: Houston Texans' Jalen Pitre becomes first Guardian Caps signature athlete
Houston Texans betting odds
Super Bowl futures, win totals & where to bet
FanDuel Sportsbook: New-customer welcome offer. New customers only. First online real-money wager only. Any bonus is issued as non-withdrawable bonus bets that expire; eligibility and restrictions apply. See the current offer and full terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com.
21+ and present in select states. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Call 1-877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). FanDuel is offering online sports wagering in Kansas under an agreement with Kansas Star Casino, LLC. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, KY, MI, NJ, OH, PA, IL, TN, VA, VT), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD), 1-800-522-4700 (WY), or visit www.1800gambler.net (WV).
Fanatics Sportsbook: Up to $1,000 in FanCash Matched Bets. New customers in AZ, CO, CT, DC, IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, LA, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NY, OH, PA, TN, VA, VT, WV or WY. Apply the promotion in your bet slip and place a $1+ cash wager (min odds -200) daily for 10 consecutive days starting the day of account creation. FanCash rewards equal the qualifying wager amount (max $100 FanCash per day). FanCash issued under this promotion expires at 11:59 p.m. ET 7 days from issuance. Terms, including FanCash terms, apply - see the Fanatics Sportsbook app.
21+ and present in a state where Fanatics Sportsbook operates. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER.
Touchdown Week may earn a commission when you sign up through our links, at no cost to you. Please bet responsibly.
