In a dramatic playoff game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins, a helmet-to-helmet collision caused a crack in the ZERO2 helmet worn by Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. However, despite the impact, Mahomes emerged unharmed, proving that the VICIS helmet had effectively protected him.

During the third quarter of the game, Mahomes dashed through opposing defenders and made his way into the red zone, only to be met with a powerful hit from Dolphins safety DeShon Elliott. The collision not only resulted in a crack but also caused a piece to fall off the left front panel of the "soft-shell" helmet.

Although VICIS, the manufacturer of the ZERO2 helmet, did not anticipate such exposure during a playoff game, they emphasized that the helmet fulfilled its purpose of safeguarding Mahomes during a head-to-head impact in unusually cold temperatures. VICIS explained that the ZERO2 helmet utilizes an exclusive multi-layer technology with a deformable outer shell, RFLX impact absorption layer, and a stiff inner shell. This innovative design mimics the crumple zone concept used in modern cars, effectively absorbing and dispersing impact forces at the point of contact.

While Mahomes expressed less concern about the cracked helmet, he highlighted the difficulty of making the backup helmet comfortable in a timely manner. He mentioned that the process of adjusting the replacement helmet took longer than necessary because it was cold when given to him.

"It was really cold, and I think that contributed to the issue. It was a first for me," Mahomes commented. "We need to address how we store the backup helmet because it was frozen, making it challenging to put on. It didn't look great initially, but we were able to warm it up and make adjustments on the sideline."

Despite the mishap with the secondary helmet and the cracked ZERO2 helmet, Mahomes, a key player for the Chiefs, did not miss a single snap. His ability to continue playing without any apparent adverse effects highlighted the reliability and effectiveness of the VICIS helmet in ensuring player safety.

As the game progressed, the cracked helmet incident served as a reminder of the importance of continually improving helmet technology to enhance player protection and comfort, particularly in extreme weather conditions. Both VICIS and the NFL will likely take note of this incident and work towards refining helmet storage and usability in adverse conditions in the future.