COLORADO – Football is an inherently dangerous sport, with injuries of one kind or another occurring during almost every game. Concussions are among the most concerning of those injuries.

One million kids participate in high school football across the United States. It is estimated that 15,000 of them suffer a concussion of varying severity each year during practice or games. Once they were shrugged off as "getting their bell rung," but now research has shown that repeated blows to the head can lead to permanent brain damage.

Outlawing helmet-to-helmet contact by defenders was a huge step in the right direction. Modern advances in helmet technology have also significantly reduced head injuries. There are now fewer concussions in the NFL and college football than there once were.

No matter how good it is, no helmet can completely eliminate concussions. If a player has experienced a handful of serious incidents over their playing career, they should consider hanging up their cleats or risk potential ill effects later in life.

During the prime of his career, San Francisco 49er Hall of Fame quarterback Steve Young called it quits after suffering seven concussions while in the pros.

Until recently, high schools haven’t been privy to the latest advances in the technology of football helmets because of their prohibitive $1,000 price tags. In Colorado, at least, that is changing.

With the safety of student athletes a top priority, the Denver Broncos Foundation, along with CommonSpirit Health, Children’s Hospital Colorado, and Ent Credit Union, pledged 15,516 Riddell Axiom smart helmets to Colorado high schools—a $15 million commitment.

Their "All In, All Covered" program is spread over four years. Every one of Colorado’s high school football teams received their first allotment before the 2025 season. The Gilpin Eagles took delivery of eight of those helmets last year. They went to the players at positions that were most at risk. In 2026 they’ll get another seven, and eight more in 2027.

These aren’t your fathers' football helmets. The front, back, and sides of the shell feature flex panels that are designed to give upon impact, absorbing some of the blow. There are eight specially fabricated liner pads inside the helmet that further protect athletes. Each player’s head is measured with 3-D laser imaging to ensure a precise fit.

Riddell’s InSite Smart Helmet Technology comes with seven built-in sensors that record the location, intensity, and number of impacts. That data can then be used by coaches to monitor players. If necessary, they can then emphasize tackling techniques that incorporate the shoulders rather than the crown of the head when in the contact zone.

With proper maintenance, the helmets’ life expectancy is 10 years. And the students' health is extended.