AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough

The 5G Helmet

 New technology and efforts to improve the game of football are constantly emerging, but rarely does a game-changing invention go unnoticed, as this one did. Let me introduce you to the AT&T 5G Football Helmet, a quiet revolution in sports innovation that deserves much louder recognition.

This helmet is a collaboration between AT&T, Gallaudet University, and Riddell, combining cutting-edge 5G technology with a mission to make football more inclusive. Gallaudet University, an institution for deaf and hard-of-hearing students, was the perfect partner for this project. So, what exactly makes this helmet so special?

Unlike traditional helmets, which rely heavily on verbal communication between coaches and players, typically using built-in audio systems to call plays directly into the quarterback’s ear, the AT&T 5G helmet offers a completely different solution. It features a near-eye display, enabling deaf or hard-of-hearing players to visually receive play calls in real-time. How this works is the coach types in the play on a tablet, and it appears inside the player’s helmet as text, enabling instant understanding without the need for sign language or huddles full of confusion.

This technology is especially critical for players at Gallaudet, whose teams have always found creative ways to work around communication barriers, such as using hand signals, signs from the sidelines, or simply memorizing play sequences. But now, with the addition of 5G technology, their ability to communicate has greatly improved.

“This isn’t just a helmet,” said Gallaudet head football coach Chuck Goldstein in a statement. “It’s a symbol of equity, innovation, and what can happen when we think about sports from a more inclusive lens.”

Beyond Gallaudet, this technology has the potential to change the game for athletes across the country. While it’s currently focused on helping deaf and hard-of-hearing players, imagine how this kind of visual communication could enhance performance for all athletes, especially in noisy stadiums or chaotic environments where verbal communication won’t work.

 More importantly, this helmet proves that inclusion and innovation don’t have to be separate goals. Players with hearing impairments have been left to adapt to a game that wasn’t built with them in mind. Now, the game is starting to adapt to them. We often talk about how sports bring people together, how they teach teamwork, leadership, and perseverance. The AT&T 5G helmet is a perfect example of what happens when those views are taken off the field and put into action.