Guardian Athletics, the maker of the Kato Collar for concussion protection, announced a partnership with Rich Gannon, former NFL quarterback and CBS Sports game analyst.
With this partnership, Gannon will help raise awareness of the importance of protecting players with the right gear, preventing injuries through proper training, and ensuring all players, coaches, and trainers are utilizing the right recovery protocols post-injury on the field. This partnership solidifies the mission of the company and their flagship product, Kato Collar, a new category of football equipment to enhance player safety.
Kato Collar features a patented two-stage deceleration process with impact absorption pads and a collar that flexes. Kato Collar slows down a player’s head upon impact to keep the brain from reaching those extreme points where injuries occur.
“Football has been a big part of my life and I’ve been fortunate to be associated with the NFL for over 30 years,” said Gannon. “Unfortunately, injuries are a big part of our game and that’s why the safety element to me is absolutely critical. I’m excited to partner with Guardian Athletics and the Kato Collar because I believe this is a piece of equipment that can help players at any level. The design & technology behind the collar is proven to help reduce the forces that are believed to cause concussions, helping to keep players safer on the field. We’re excited to see it in action this season.”
Gannon had his finest season in 2002 setting NFL and franchise records in leading the Raiders to their third straight AFC Western Division title and advancing to Super Bowl 37 as the AFC Champions. That same year Gannon was named the NFL’s Most Valuable Player becoming only the third Raider in team history to be named the NFL’s MVP. He also was selected to his fourth straight Pro Bowl and was the Pro Bowl’s Most Valuable Player in 2001 and 2002.
“We’re thrilled to have Rich as a member of our team,” said Jeff Chambers, founder of Guardian Athletics. “Together, we’ll be able to combine our voices to evangelize the importance of all of the ways we can make football as safe as possible and build confidence with the football community to help recruit young players into the game.”
While helmets provide a level of protection for the skull, the brain can still move with impact causing head injuries, particularly concussions. A concussion is a serious injury to the brain resulting from the rapid acceleration and deceleration of brain tissue within the skull.1
Kato Collar’s unique design decelerates the head after impact by up to 30 percent and reduces the forces that are believed to cause concussions. Kato Collar’s design adds another layer of protection for the brain and prevents burners and stingers, a common injury among football players.
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