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Aaron Rodgers on new chapter with Pittsburgh Steelers<\/p>\n
Aaron Rodgers met with the media after his first practice with the Pittsburgh Steelers and explained why now was the right time to sign with the team.<\/p>\n
Sports Pulse<\/p>\n
All offseason long, everyone wanted to know what was on Aaron Rodgers’<\/a> mind. Now that he officially signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers<\/a> and participated in mandatory minicamp<\/a>, the focus has shifted to what is on his head.<\/p>\n As Rodgers enters his 21st season in the league with his third team, he’ll be doing so with some new headgear when he takes the field.<\/p>\n Rodgers has famously worn a Schutt helmet throughout his career, a look that had become synonymous with the four-time NFL MVP. After donning the Schutt Air XP Pro Q11 LTD model in 2024 with the New York Jets<\/a>, the NFL banned that helmet earlier this offseason due to safety concerns.<\/p>\n The quarterback is now left to seek some new protection for his head. Following his first minicamp practice on Tuesday, Rodgers made it clear he’s not a fan.<\/p>\n “I can\u2019t stand the helmet,” Rodgers told reporters<\/a>. “I\u2019ve worn a Schutt for 20 years and somehow it finally didn\u2019t pass the safety standards.”<\/p>\n It appeared the quarterback elected to wear a Schutt F7 Pro model<\/a> helmet on Tuesday, which passed the NFL’s annual study.<\/p>\n NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo noted that Rodgers’ preferred helmet was “not recommended” last season, so players were still allowed to use it.<\/p>\n Rodgers\u2019 preferred helmet was the Schutt Air XP Q11, which was listed as \u201cnot recommended\u201d last year and is now prohibited. pic.twitter.com\/a8pgzig0yx<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) June 10, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n Following the annual helmet performance and safety study<\/a>, the NFL and the NFL Players Association banned seven additional models this offseason. They are:<\/p>\n Riddell FoundationRiddell Speed IconRiddell SpeedRiddell Revolution Speed ClassicSchutt Air XP Pro Q11 LTDXenith Epic+Xenith Epic<\/p>\n It’s not the first time Rodgers was forced to change his helmet. After beginning his career wearing a Brett Favre-style helmet, the quarterback switched following a pair of concussions.<\/p>\n In 2019, Rodgers faced a similar situation when the NFL banned his preferred option. Then-Las Vegas Raiders’ receiver Antonio Brown famously threatened to retire<\/a> as a result of the decision but ultimately continued his career until 2021.<\/p>\n Rodgers seemed to strike a different chord that offseason, saying that it “isn\u2019t difficult at all” to make the change.<\/p>\n \u201cThe way they make helmets these days, they do a great job of molding it to your head \u2013 the fit is spectacular,\u201d Rodgers said via Yahoo Sports<\/a>. \u201cI can go from this helmet to a VICIS helmet to a different helmet, and as far as the fit is concerned, you don\u2019t really notice the difference at all. It fits really nicely.\u201d<\/p>\n That year, Rodgers was choosing between a Schutt or VICIS model helmet, the latter being a company in which he had invested in 2018, according to Forbes<\/a>.<\/p>\n It’s unclear if the quarterback will opt for one of the company’s nine helmets that tested well in the NFL’s study or stick with a Schutt model again.<\/p>\n Luckily for him, there’s plenty of time to find the right fit before kickoff in September.<\/p>\n