Sports

NFL Coming to Youngstown in Search of Innovations for a New, Safer Helmet

Ideastream Public Media | By Joseph Ciccolini

Published September 17, 2019 at 6:41 PM EDT

The NFL is partnering with America Makes to look for possible new, safer helmets.

Youngstown has built a hub for additive manufacturing and it’s paying off in a big way. The NFL is bringing its challenge to create a safer helmet to the city in November.

Erin O’Donnell, Director of Partnerships and Community Relations forAmerica Makessays the three day symposium could be a big step in trying to prevent concussions for players.

Youngstown will be the center for possible developments in new helmet technology.

“The opportunity is we’re going to bring everyone to Youngstown. It will be networking, it will be brainstorming, it will be creating a group that will then go and write a grant paper in regards to how they plan to solve it.”

The grant papers will be due next spring.

Erin O'Donnell of America Makes says Dr. John York, who owns the San Francisco '49ers with his wife Denise DeBartolo York, helped connect the additive manufacturing center with the NFL.

Whoever gets selected will then be given funding to research and develop a prototype that meets NFL standards.

A winner will be selected in May 2021 and receive a $1 million prize.

Those interested in attending the symposium can find more information here.