Aaron Rodgers is still searching for the right helmet in the NFL, struggling to find one that feels comfortable on the field. The quarterback, who has won the MVP award four times, enjoyed using his Schutt Air XP Pro Q11 Ltd, but it didn’t meet the league’s safety standards. Consequently, he had to opt for another option. Although he remains with Schutt, he’s not particularly fond of the Air XP Pro VTD II model he’s been wearing during training camp with the Pittsburgh Steelers.
“I don’t like it, no,” he stated on Tuesday. “I’m about to change. We’re still in the process. It looks like a damn spaceship out there.” Rodgers didn’t exactly elaborate on his discomfort, but he is aware that he needs to be used to it by the start of the season.
“We had to change that,” he continued, mentioning that the face masks don’t fit well on the helmets—probably because they’re old, much like him. The 41-year-old had voiced complaints about his helmet back in June, shortly after he signed with the Steelers following an extended free agency period.
In the Steelers’ first preseason game against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Rodgers seemed to be grappling with the new headgear. Most of the team’s starters were sitting out, a common practice across the league during these early games.
Looking ahead, the Steelers will kick off their second preseason week with a joint practice against the Buccaneers this Saturday at Aquilis Earth Stadium. Rodgers shared some thoughts on the upcoming matchup, saying, “If it goes well, hopefully [Buccaneers head coach] Todd [Bowles] won’t show everything, but he’ll do some things to highlight our protection and give us the opportunity to work on the film.”
This marks Rodgers’ 21st year in the NFL, and he mentioned feeling quite certain about it being his final season. “Yeah, I’m sure this is it,” he remarked during a June interview on the Pat McCuffy Show, adding that they only signed a one-year contract.
With a helmet that meets NFL safety standards, Rogers is set to face his former team, the New York Jets, at MetLife Stadium on September 7th in the season opener.
