Six years later, he's the lead designer on Schutt's latest helmet, the F7, an innovative new design that's likely to become the latest salvo in the helmet industry's anti-concussion arms race.

The new Schutt F7 helmet (left), with its exterior plates, looks significantly different than more traditional helmets. Paul Lukas. Paul Lukas Jan 18, 2017, 12:00 AM ET. Close.

Several Steelers — including T.J. Watt and Roman Wilson — are joining Aaron Rodgers in switching to the innovative F7 Pro helmet in 2025.

This year’s overall rankings included 11 helmets "recommended for use by NFL players." The VICIS ZERO2 Matrix ID, Schutt F7 Pro, Schutt F7 Pro WR/DB and VICIS ZERO2 ranked in the Top 5.