What are football pads? Football Pads are protective equipment worn by players in American football. They are designed to absorb and distribute the impacts of collisions and tackles, helping to prevent injuries and saving lives.
During the early days of American Football (Late 1800s and early 1900s), players wore very minimal padding. The first pads were made of leather and were directly sewn into the uniforms. These pads barely provided any protection and were made by a student at Princeton University. In the 1920s-1930s, padding became more substantial. When shoulder pads were introduced, made of leather and wool. These pads provided a bit more protection but were still very unsafe. This era was introduced to companies like Riddell that started making football more items for protection. In the 1940s-1950s, the materials for pads began to improve. Harder materials like plastic started being used by Riddell, and the model of football pads became more advanced, providing better protection. In the 1960s-1970s, football pads evolved even more. Foam padding was introduced, and the overall fit of the pads was improved, making them work better with more comfort. In the 1980s-1990s, football pads were introduced to more lightweight and more durable materials—the use of synthetic materials allowed for less bulk and more protection, increasing mobility and protection. Pads became more specialized for different football positions in this decade. Now, in the early 2000s, modern football pads are more highly advanced, using state-of-the-art materials like memory foam and high-impact plastics. Nowadays, football pads are lightweight and provide maximum protection thanks to engineers and other researchers and the Riddell brand has made many football pads saving lives.
First pads: Pads in the 60s: New and improved pads:
Evolution Of Football Gear:
New and advanced football Pads:
Related Stories:
https://blog.battlesports.com/evolution-of-football-equipment
https://www.loveyourgear.ca/knowledge-base/how-football-equipment-has-evolved/
https://www.cfbhall.com/news-and-happenings/blog/kents-corner-the-evolution-of-equipment/
https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1642538-the-evolution-of-football-equipment
https://www.footballarchaeology.com/p/todays-tidbit-the-evolution-of-shoulder
Take Action:
https://www.sportsunlimitedinc.com/shoulderpads.
https://www.riddell.com/riddell/en/Open-Catalogue/Shoulder-Pads/c/t200
