XFL Helmet Partner In Financial Trouble, Could Miss Season Deadline

The New York Times is reporting that helmet maker Vicis,

“is running out of money.”

Vicis is a new player in the football helmet business with backers like Seattle Seahawks QB Russell Wilson and NFL Hall Of Famer WR Jerry Rice.

Vicis helmets are worn by players like Wilson and NFL MVP QB Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs. These high tech helmets are supposed to protect players more than traditional hemlets.

“Shock absorbers inside the helmet have been shown to reduce the impact of direct hits and limit the rotational energy the head absorbs.”

The XFL has made it a point to make their game safer for players. Including bringing on experts like Dr. Julian Bailes a founding member of the Brain Injury Research Institute.

In June, the XFL even established a health advisory committee to help in the field of player safety. Part of the safety included rules changes and using more advanced equipment. This is where companies like Vicis came in.

According to the report;

“The company expects to lose $26 million this year, according to internal Vicis documents. With its cash dwindling, it has struggled to fulfill some orders. The delivery of a few hundred helmets ordered by the upstart XFL has been delayed. The new league is hoping the helmets will arrive by the start of training camps early next year, according to an XFL official with direct knowledge of the transaction, who spoke on condition of anonymity to preserve the league’s relationship with one of the few helmet manufacturers.”

Hitting that timeline does not look good.

“Our employees are currently furloughed and we need to raise capital in order to continue operating, or we may have no other option but to wind down all operations,” wrote Ralph Greene Jr., who took over as the new chief executive.”

On their website, it states they will resume taking orders on January 2nd, 2020. Not sure why they need to stop taking orders now if things are going to be back to normal business soon.

It is unclear whether the XFL will lose its money or will Vicis come through with its delivery of these advanced helmets on time. Even if they do, a company that is currently on the brink of bankruptcy will not help the reboot of the XFL 2.0.

There are still other manufactures of football helmets like Riddell and Schutt. Both of which are working on advanced technology to bring to the market as well. The XFL will still be able to play football with or without Vicis as a partner.

Stay with XFL News Hub on this developing story.