DES PLAINES, Ill. — There probably never will be a perfect football helmet. That doesn't mean manufacturers won't chase that goal.
A tour of the Riddell headquarters makes that absolutely clear. Innovation, imagination, analytics, all with advancements in the product and enhancements of player safety as the objective.
Those advancements have occurred in this century at varied paces. Some improvements have developed over a period of years, while others — particularly nowadays with so many steps forward in technology and analytics — happened rapidly and will continue to do so.
Riddell is among four manufacturers who have received high marks in the NFL/NFLPA annual rankings, which are revealed publicly, and a poster of the ratings is placed at every team facility.