Aeons before COVID-19 turned football’s sidelines into a scene reminiscent of an emergency room, fans of the sport had already observed an array of face coverings and masks adopted for a multitude of practical and celebratory purposes. Whether it was to protect a facial injury, to promulgate a culture, or to revel in victory, the sport has seen its fair share of visors and vizards of all shapes and sizes throughout the years.
Football is probably not the first sport that comes to mind when you think about facial protection. Sports like fencing and ice hockey share a much more apparent and continuous threat to the face and head.