Why Does Mahomes's Helmet Sit So High? Two Reasons: Visibility and Protection

The Gist:

• NFL fans seem to think that Patrick Mahomes's helmet is resting higher on his head than other players'.
• As it turns out, this is a longtime practice of the Kansas City Chiefs quarterback in order to improve his on-field visibility
• The helmet more than likely looks even larger due to the fact that the NFL has introduced quarterback-specific helmets designed to better protect against concussions.

If you're an NFL fan, then you've definitely seen Patrick Mahomes play, and whether or not you're rooting for the Chiefs, checking out highlights, or seeing them best your favorite team as you writhe in agony, you may have noticed that the Super Bowl–winning quarterback wears his helmet a bit higher than his fellow football players on the field. Which has left a lot of spectators wondering: Why does Mahomes's helmet sit so high?

Apparently, there's a two-pronged reason as to why Mahomes's helmet rests a little taller than those of other players on the field: The first has to do with visibility.

Mahomes has previously complained about his helmet dropping down over his eyeline, making it difficult for him to get a full view of the field and obstructing his vision.

To counteract this, he began putting his helmet higher up on his head, which soon became a fix that he became accustomed to. While it may seem out of place especially when compared to the other players on the field, it's difficult to argue that the strange placement is doing any harm; Mahomes is a two-time Super Bowl winner and there are many who believe the Chiefs are favored to nab the 2023–2024 prize as well.

The second reason why Mahomes's helmet looks like it sits so high on his head is also because in 2023, the NFL introduced larger helmets for all quarterbacks which were specifically designed to limit concussions and head injuries.

According to the league, "half of all QB concussions" occur on pigskin-slingers once they hit the ground and their head bounces off of the grass.

The name of the helmet is the Vicis Zero2 Matrix QB, and the NFL says it "performed 7 percent better in quarterback-specific testing than the most popular helmet worn by quarterbacks last season."

Mahomes isn't the only quarterback who's been rocking the newer helmet; Joe Burrow was spotted with it on his head during the off-season, as was Aaron Rodgers before he unceremoniously got hurt during his first game with the NY Jets.

Mahomes has also been seen rocking a Riddell Speedflex model helmet as well as the Vicis Zero2, but it doesn't seem to matter which one of these bad boys he puts over his dome during a game — he's going to wear it a little higher up on his noggin as per his personal QB playing style custom.

The Kansas City squad's defense has been called "elite," and a number of the Chiefs' victories in this season so far have been attributed to Karlaftis and company.

The defensive end's tremendous pressure against rival quarterbacks has been lauded and viewers and analysts alike have speculated that he may become the league's most prolific "sack master" yet.

Which is great news for Chiefs fans; not so much for everyone else in the league, however.