The most distinctive piece of football equipment is the helmet. It also is the most important element of safety equipment because it protects the player's head and face from the collisions and contact that occur throughout a game. Early NFL players wore no helmets. Leather helmets came into wide use in the 1930's and 1940's, but they afforded little protection and did not cover the face. Using technology developed for American soldiers' helmets during World War II, NFL players began to wear hard plastic helmets surrounding canvas suspension belts; protective face masks were added soon after. Helmets used in the NFL today combine high-tech plastics, inflatable, formfitting air bladders, and a multitude of adjustable straps to create the safest helmet possible.
Without the proper training and protection, football can be a dangerous game. In fact, in the early part of the century, before the NFL came along, President Theodore Roosevelt threatened to ban the sport in response to some deaths. However, as the NFL grew, the desire to protect its players from the hardness of the game grew as well. Early NFL players used only leather pads and helmets were used. After World War II, strong and lightweight plastic materials were developed that changed the way players were protected. Shoulder pads became lighter and more flexible, yet safer than before. Foam padding replaced cotton stuffing, reducing weight while increasing strength. Today's advanced protective equipment, combined with improved training and rehabilitation techniques, makes football as safe as it possible can be for players. All NFL players are required to wear mouth guards. Before each season, a team dentist creates a rubber mouth guard individually molded to each player's teeth. The dense foam-rubber thigh pad takes nearly as much punishment as the shoulder pads. Players wear these pads in special pockets in the legs of their uniform pants. Some players choose to use elbow pads. A cloth cover surrounds a foam-rubber pad. A wide elastic strap keep the pads in place on the player's arm. Players sometimes need assistance tightening and adjusting their shoulder pads for the best and safest fit. A jersey fits very tight around a player's shoulder pads. This is to prevent defenders from grabbing the jersey. Offensive linemen often wear padded gloves. Receivers and running backs sometimes wear thinner gloves that give them a good feel for the ball. Along with the helmet, shoulder pads are among the most recognizable pieces of football equipment. The pads help give the NFL player his distinctive, broad-shouldered look. More importantly, shoulder pads are one of the players' most important protective devices.