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Coming to an NFL game near you, the Zero1, a helmet that helps guard against brain injuries


Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks rushes under pressure from defensive lineman Allen Bailey #97 of the Kansas City Chiefs at CenturyLink Field on August 25, 2017 in Seattle, Washington.

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Quarterback Russell Wilson #3 of the Seattle Seahawks rushes under pressure from defensive lineman Allen Bailey #97 of the Kansas City Chiefs at CenturyLink Field on August 25, 2017 in Seattle, Washington.

VICIS’s helmet comes with a $1,500 price tag, which is about three to five time more costly than current helmets.

Compared to the existing equipment in use, Marver said VICIS’s more flexible helmet has “been completely redesigned. Today’s helmets have a hard outer shell and a little bit of padding. This one actually yields like a car bumper when impacted.”

Players who’ve used it, “say it feels different in a collision,” Marver told CNBC. “They’re not feeling the severity of the impact as much. They’re not having ‘white-out’ moments, they’re not seeing stars.”

Seattle Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson, who uses the helmet, told Marver that “he likes that he can see the whole field.” Other players say they “appreciate the wider field of view and that’s both a safety and a performance feature.”

Earlier this year, researchers at Boston University’s CTE Center found evidence of the degenerative brain disease in the brains of 110 of the 111 deceased NFL players they had studied.

The study added to the raging discussion about player safety, and the NFL has raised the bar on on-field penalties that could hurt players. That said, can a different helmet design stop concussions from occurring?

“…We’re not claiming it can prevent concussions,” Marver said. “However, it is the best helmet ever tested at reducing the severity of head impacts.”

He acknowledged that “a helmet alone isn’t going to take care of everything. It has to be accompanied by better tackling techniques, better coaching and so forth. But we’re hopeful this is going to make a big difference.”

On the Money airs on CNBC Saturday at 5:30 am ET, or check listings for air times in local markets.

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