NFL 'could ban helmets' to protect American football stars

Ditching the iconic headgear would stop players using their heads as weapons says NFL safety chief

American football
(Image credit: Getty)

If American football is synonymous with one piece of sports kit, it is the helmet. But the NFL's safety chief believes the sport could one day ban the headgear in an attempt to reduce the risk of head injuries.

The counter-intuitive move was flagged up by Dr John York, chairman of the NFL health and safety advisory commission, in an interview with the BBC. "Can I see a time without helmets? Yes," he said, explaining that the headgear often gives players a false sense of security and increases the physicality of the game.

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