Manufacturer of Patrick Mahomes' helmet: Crack 'not ideal,' but equipment protected QB

The manufacturer of the helmet used by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes said the model that cracked during Kansas City's wild-card round victory was "not ideal" but that it ultimately did its job of protecting Mahomes from serious injury.

During Saturday's game against the Miami Dolphins, as he has all season, Mahomes used the helmet model ZERO2 from the manufacturer VICIS. The game was played in historically frigid temperatures at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium, which contributed to the helmet's cracking, the company added.

"Extreme conditions like those experienced in Saturday evening’s NFL playoff game are bound to test the limits of even the highest performing products," VICIS said Tuesday in a statement that was posted on social media. "While outer shell damage is not ideal, the ZERO2 helmet did its job of protecting Patrick Mahomes during a head-to-head impact in unprecedented cold temperatures."

The company cited its "multi-layer technology" in the ZERO2 model, which includes a deformable outer shell, an impact absorption layer and a stiff inner shell.

"This design approach is similar to the crumple zone of modern cars, effectively absorbing and dispersing impact forces at the point of contact," VICIS continued.

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Midway through the third quarter, Mahomes scrambled toward the end zone before he lowered his helmet to brace for contact and crashed into Dolphins safety DeShon Elliott. The force of Elliott's hit chipped off a chunk of the shell on the left side of Mahomes' helmet, leaving a hole exposed.

Mahomes remained on the field for two plays before officials made him replace the damaged helmet.

“I was very unhappy because my helmet’s warm and it cracked ... and I put the other helmet on, and it didn’t fit at all," Mahomes said in an interview after the Chiefs' 26-7 victory. "It was sitting out in the cold all day long.” 

VICIS added that its helmets "are extensively tested in high-impact conditions across a wide range of temperatures" and that the company would continue to work with the NFL and the company's partner organizations to refine its products.