Tom Brady has worn the same style helmet throughout his entire NFL career, but he has made a change this offseason and is planning to stick with it when meaningful games begin. While the obvious reason for the switch would be that his old helmet style will soon be outlawed by the NFL, Brady has a better explanation.
On Wednesday, a reporter asked Brady how he chose his new helmet. Apparently it has nothing to do with comfort or decreasing the risk of head injuries.
Tom Brady on how he chose his new helmet: “I asked the guys if I looked any younger or faster in it and they said yes.”
— Nora Princiotti (@NoraPrinciotti) August 22, 2018
While we wish that were true, Brady doesn’t have much of a choice. His old helmet, the Riddell VSR-4, was one of 10 helmet styles that have been banned by the NFL after they performed poorly in lab tests. Brady would have been able to stick with the helmet for one more season, but he has decided to make the adjustment now. As one Boston.com writer speculated, that could be a hint he is planning to play in 2019 and wants to get a jump on getting used to the new gear.
There have been times this offseason where Brady was in what you would call the opposite of a joking mode, so his little helmet joke is a refreshing change.
