Broncos launch first-in-NFL program to equip Colorado's high school football programs with helmets
Updated
Jan. 28, 2025 8:08 p.m. ET
share
x
link
Associated Press
LONE TREE, Colo. (AP) — The Denver Broncos are giving more than 15,000 helmets to high school football programs in Colorado, a first-in-the-NFL initiative intended to improve the game and make it safer for prep athletes.
The team's foundation has partnered with Riddell and the Colorado High School Activities Association to launch the initiative dubbed 'All In, All Covered.' The participants expect to provide 15,516 Riddell Axiom smart helmets to all of the state's 277 high schools with tackle football programs over a four-year span.
The idea for the program came about at a foundation board meeting in August, when Broncos owner and CEO Greg Penner and other board members sought ways to reduce barriers to participation in football, including costs and safety concerns.
'Aligned with our foundation values of equity and innovation, this first-of-its-kind initiative will positively influence how schools and governing bodies prioritize student-athlete health and safety,' said team owner and foundation board chair Carrie Walton Penner.
ADVERTISEMENT
The Broncos called it the largest philanthropic investment in the club's 65-year history. Although the team didn't reveal any figures, the smart helmets typically cost more than $800 each, so the total retail cost of the 15,516 helmets would be more than $12 million, not including maintenance and ongoing analytics that will be provided all schools.
'After helping Colorado sanction girls high school flag football in 2024, we view this legacy initiative as an opportunity to further invest in future generations by creating equitable access to the sport," team and foundation board president Damani Leech said Thursday.
The Broncos said the Riddell Axiom helmet, which is used by several of their players, was selected for the program because of its safety and performance. It features 3D imaging of each athlete's head for a personalized fit and a protection system to improve impact response. The helmets also include technology for impact sensing and reporting.
The Broncos foundation will provide each school with a four-year subscription to an analytics and sideline device to monitor and analyze impact history, which will help coaches identify and address flaws in technique to reduce head injuries and optimize performance.
Allie Engelken, vice president of community impact and the executive director of the Broncos Foundation, said the 3D imaging scans allows for the helmets to be refitted as part of the standard reconditioning process.
'So, if you take into account that the average lifespan of a helmet is about eight to 10 years with 15,516 helmets ... we could be seeing between 75,000 and 155,000 kids wearing these helmets over the next 13 years,' she said.
The helmets will be delivered to the schools beginning in May, along with starter kits and maintenance tools.
'I feel like a collective 'wow' would be in order,' CHSAA Commissioner Mike Krueger said. 'It is a little bit hard to wrap your mind around an initiative that will have the kind of impact that this one will have.'
___
AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/NFL
share
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
7 minutes ago
- New York Post
Mets' Starling Marte ‘didn't miss a beat' in return from injury
Access the Mets beat like never before Join Post Sports+ for exciting subscriber-only features, including real-time texting with Mike Puma about the inside buzz on the Mets. Try it free SAN FRANCISCO — Starling Marte was contributing offensively for the Mets before he hit the injured list in early July, and since his return, he has regained that momentum. The veteran DH now has six hits in his 10 at-bats since his activation from the IL last week after going 2-for-3 with a walk in the Mets' 5-3 win over the Giants on Sunday. Marte missed two weeks after receiving a gel injection for discomfort in his right knee. 'He's been huge,' manager Carlos Mendoza said before the victory. 'He continues to give us solid at-bats against lefties, righties. He goes down and missed a few days, and then he comes back and seems like he didn't miss a beat.' 3 Starling Marte #6 of the New York Mets reacts after hitting a double in the top of the fourth inning against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park on July 26, 2025 in San Francisco, California. Getty Images Marte entered play with a .262/.364/.412 slash line with four homers and 20 RBIs. In the starting lineup again Sunday, Marte reached base three times for the second straight day. Mendoza's other option would have been to start Mark Vientos as the DH. 'I am going to try to keep [Marte] in the lineup, but at the same time, I am going to continue to monitor him,' Mendoza said. 'I'm going to continue to give him days off and get his feedback. He's usually pretty honest with us, so we'll go game by game and series by series.' 3 Starling Marte #6, Juan Soto #22 and Ronny Mauricio #10 of the New York Mets celebrates in the dugout after Soto hit a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants in the top of the seventh inning at Oracle Park on July 27, 2025 in San Francisco, California. Getty Images Paul Blackburn was sharp in a potential final rehab start for Triple-A Syracuse. The right-hander allowed one earned run on five hits with six strikeouts and one walk over 6 ¹/₃ innings. Blackburn, who is rehabbing a shoulder impingement, could next rejoin the team as a long reliever/sixth starter, but Mendoza indicated a decision won't be reached until at least Monday. Delivering insights on all things Amazin's Sign up for Inside the Mets by Mike Puma, exclusively on Sports+ Thank you Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Enjoy this Post Sports+ exclusive newsletter! Check out more newsletters Edwin Díaz extended his scoreless streak to 17 innings since June 6 by pitching a scoreless ninth Sunday. He loaded the bases on two walks and a hit batter but pitched out of trouble to earn his 23rd save in 25 chances this season. 3 Mets pitcher Edwin Díaz celebrates against the San Francisco Giants during the ninth inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, July 27, 2025. AP The All-Star closer has allowed only one earned run over his past 32 appearances, owning a 4-0 record with 17 saves since April 23. Jose Siri, who has been sidelined since April with a fractured left tibia, still isn't close to resuming baseball activities, but it's still expected he will play again this season, according to Mendoza. Siri's workouts have consisted of running in a pool to strengthen the leg.
Yahoo
36 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Broncos legend rejects claim about Reece Walsh in pointed swipe at two teammates
Corey Parker has rejected suggestions Reece Walsh was solely to blame for the Broncos' loss to Parramatta on Friday night, saying the club's veteran leaders should bear the brunt of the backlash. Brisbane were expected to trounce the lowly Eels at Suncorp Stadium, but instead came away with a 22-20 loss. Walsh made a number of costly errors at the back, most notably when he failed to catch a bomb on the full which led to a Parramatta try. He was then found to be marginally off-side on what would have been the winning for the Broncos at the death. The young fullback has copped plenty of criticism for his performance, but according to Parker it's his veteran teammates who should take more responsibility. Parker pinpointed halfback Adam Reynolds and hooker Ben Hunt as two leaders of the club who didn't stand up on Friday night, and didn't pull Walsh into line when he went a bit erratic. "There are moments in any sport when you need leadership," the Broncos legend said on SEN radio on Monday. "There comes a time when your most experienced players and your leaders have to stand up and make some bold calls, and they have to stay on task. "The Broncos have got Adam Reynolds at 35 years of age and over 300 games of experience. He's the No.7. He's what you would think is the leader of the football side. He's the captain, and he plays a real pivotal position. "Then you've got Ben Hunt at No.9 with just shy of 350 games. So between those two individuals you've got a collective 651 games between them. We hear so often when the Broncos win or don't win, it's either Reece Walsh has had an ordinary game or Reece Walsh has had a great game. [But] experience in big games and pivotal moments is paramount." RELATED: Stunning development for Cleary brothers as Luai under heavy fire Cameron Munster 'open' to switch to Melbourne Storm's rival Did the Broncos' leaders stand up? Parker pointed out some of the leaders at other clubs who make sure their teammates are held accountable. Parker mentioned Stephen Crichton at the Bulldogs, Tom Dearden at the Cowboys and Harry Grant at the Storm, who stepped up and led his side past the Roosters with Ryan Papenhuyzen, Cameron Munster and Jahrome Hughes out. He added: "You look at the team atop the competition - the Canberra Raiders - wonderful leaders in their football side that don't deviate. Jamal Fogarty has plenty of youth in his team - Xavier Savage and Kaeo Weekes - but he does not deviate from what is required. Kicks to the corners really well and steers his team around the park when they start to get a little shaky. "I want to see the leaders of the Broncos really stand up over the next four or five weeks, and if they can do that, what flows off the back of it will certainly be warranted. You need talent and your best players on the field, but some of the leadership we've seen so far this year has been exceptional (at the top clubs)." Did the bye halt the Broncos' momentum? Parker said the Broncos may have suffered from having the bye in Round 20, which halted their momentum and eventually saw a six-game losing streak snapped. Coach Michael Maguire made a conscious decision to give his players a five-day break, but it might have cost them. The Broncos were leap-frogged by the Panthers and fell to sixth place with the loss - four points behind the Warriors in fourth. Maguire's side will need results to go their way if they're any hope of a top-four finish.
Fox Sports
an hour ago
- Fox Sports
Dwight Muhammad Qawi, boxer who went from prison to champion, dies at 72
Associated Press CAMDEN, N.J. (AP) — Dwight Muhammad Qawi, the Hall of Fame fighter who took up boxing in prison and became a two-weight world champion, has died. He was 72. Qawi's sister, Wanda King, said he died Friday following a five-year battle with dementia. Born Dwight Braxton in Baltimore, Qawi grew up in Camden. He competed in the boxing program at Rahway State Prison while serving a sentence for armed robbery, and turned professional at age 25 soon after his release in 1978. In December 1981, Qawi — who legally changed his name in 1982 following his conversion to Islam — stopped Matthew Saad Muhammad in the 10th round to win the WBC light heavyweight belt. Qawi stopped Saad again eight months later, taking six rounds. After a loss Michael Spinks, the 5-foot-7 Qawi — called 'The Camden Buzzsaw' — moved up in weight and took the WBA cruiserweight title from Piet Crous in July 1985. Qawi lost the title to future heavyweight champion Evander Holyfield in a 15-rounder in July 1986. Qawi later fought as a heavyweight, with George Foreman stopping him in seven rounds. Qawi retired in 1998 at age 46 with a 41-11-1 record and 25 knockouts. He was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2004. After his retirement from the ring, he worked as a boxing trainer, youth advocate and drug and alcohol counselor. ___ AP sports: in this topic
