According to NFLPA medical director Thom Mayer, the league is working with Oakley to develop different face shields that might provide added protection for players. That includes a potential full mask instead of just a face shield, and it includes a mask that has surgical or N95 materials, Mayer said on Adam Schefter’s podcast.

“That’s a possibility,” Mayer told Schefter regarding the potential use of surgical material on football facemasks. “Back in early March I had suggested that we should consider novel and emerging ways to handle the helmets and the facemasks and the spread of the virus. And these guys, the bioengineers that we use and that the league uses — Oakley, as you may or may not know, does all the face visors for the league under contract — these guys got the bit between their teeth.”

According to the statement, the non-standardized facemasks present "particular safety risks," and also more frequently fail the certification tests from the company (NOCSAE) which approves equipment for the NFL. All helmets and facemasks have to be certified by this organization, though it's unclear if the facemasks that did make it through last season actually failed or not.

MLB Umpire Injured by Foul Ball Awarded $775K in Suit Against Sporting Goods Company
A District of Columbia Superior Court jury has ordered the Wilson Sporting Goods Co. to pay $775,000 to a Major League Baseball umpire injured by a foul ball that knocked off his Wilson-made face mask.Seattle Seahawks

ATLANTA — With an eye toward getting back on the field during a pandemic, the NFL is working on a helmet face guard that might provide the same sort of protection as a surgical mask.

Atlanta Falcons president Rich McKay, who heads up the league’s competition committee, said the issue was raised during a conference call about a month ago.Philadelphia Eagles

nflfacemaskshop.com
Team Logo Face Masks

MLB and FOCO are teaming up to support Feeding America and Second Harvest Canada by donating all MLB proceeds from the sale of licensed Braves face coverings.Green Bay Packers

Dave Parker, Pirates, 1978: Any discussion of specialized baseball headgear has to begin with the Cobra. After fracturing his jaw and cheekbone in a home plate collision with Mets catcher John Stearns on May 30, 1978, he returned to the lineup a few weeks later and quickly cycled through a series of bizarre-looking attempts to protect his injured face:

Gary Roenicke, Orioles, 1980: After being hit in the face by a pitch, Roenicke wore a partial two-bar football mask similar to Valentine's, only Roenicke's wrapped around a bit more of his face and was painted black, to match the Orioles' color scheme.

BLOG: A YEARN FOR THE RETURNAtlanta Falcons