Why Travis Kelce’s helmet looks different to other players as Chiefs star wears unique gear

Travis Kelce is sure to go down as one of the greatest tight ends in NFL history.

A three-time Super Bowl champion with the Kansas City Chiefs, he boasts a string of personal records across 12 seasons in the league.

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And his longevity alone is impressive enough.

After playing just one snap in his 2013 rookie year, he has been a mainstay for the Kansas City offense ever since, playing no less than 15 regular season games in each of the next 10 years.

Kelce has been a key weapon for the Chiefs again this season, and he's now set for yet another Super Bowl appearance tonight in New Orleans.

The position of tight end is a demanding one, as they are required to receive, block and rush on any given Sunday.

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And to deal with the strain of the role, Kelce has been helped by some trusty gear of his own.

The 35-year-old has found himself well protected by his helmet - which looks a little different to those worn by his teammates and rivals.

What helmet does Travis Kelce wear?

For eight seasons, Kelce was seen sporting a Schutt Air XP helmet.

But in 2021, he upgraded to the to the Schutt F7 and has never looked back.

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According to , the F7 is one of the best helmets in the game, with a perfect 5/5 on the Virginia Tech Helmet Rating scale.

It is known for being super light and features Schutt’s 'Tektonic Plates'.

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Placed on the top of the helmet, those plates move independently from the rest of the shell to help distribute impact and absorb rotational forces.

The helmet also has five different panels that can be mixed and matched, so if something breaks, or a different setup is needed, they can easily be swapped out.

According to the Instagram page, Kelce has been wearing a Schutt F7 UR1 this year.

He compliments that with an F7-EGOP-VI facemask and a Riddell hardcup chinstrap. In 2023, he used an F7-EGOP-III facemask.

While the helmet offers Kelce solid protection, the appearance has been discussed by NFL fans.

"This jagged bar trend is kinda lame. I just don’t like the way they look, but I’m sure they have some benefits for vision," one person said of his helmet.

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"F7s look good on some and bad on others depending on the tilt of the helmet. This is an example of bad tilt," another said.

"He needs to go back to what he used to have," a third suggested, while a fourth wrote: "This helmet and facemask combo somehow makes his head shrink into a tiny face."

While the appearance of Kelce's helmet has caused some debate, the F7 is proving popular, and is used by athletes across the league.

Along with Kelce, the Chiefs' superstar quarterback Patrick Mahomes also has a unique helmet.

Mahomes wears his gear higher on his head to help prevent any serious head injuries and to allow him to see clearer.

Both have been starring in the NFL Playoffs once again in the postseason and are now only one win away from creating history by achieving a Super Bowl three-peat.

The Chiefs take on the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX on Sunday, February 9.

talkSPORT will have live coverage of the game in New Orleans. 

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