UC Engineer Unveils Design of Joe Burrow's New Helmet

turned to a University of Cincinnati biomedical engineer to explain why Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow is trying out a new football helmet in training camp this week.

Burrow started training camp with the new Vicis Zero 2.

Professor Eric Nauman in UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science said football players are especially at risk of concussion when the back of their head hits the ground.

"Most locations on the helmet will absorb 80% to 90% of the impact, but the back of the helmet often only deflects 50% of the hit," he told WCPO reporter Kristen Swilley.

"So when the player gets tackled and falls back on the turf, it's an especially risky type of hit."

Led by Dr. Eric Nauman, a professor of biomedical engineering in UC's College of Engineering and Applied Science, University of Cincinnati engineers put popular football helmets made by leading brands through impact testing and found that no single design demonstrated superior reduction of potential concussion incidence or consistent energy absorption at every part of the helmet. Research assistants: Sean Bucherl (ball cap), Christopher Boles (UC sweatshirt), and Shengming Hu (UC polo).

UC College of Engineering and Applied Science Professor Eric Nauman studies ways to prevent concussion in his biomedical engineering lab. Photo/Andrew Higley/UC Marketing + Brand

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