Kodiak Brush, MIT alumnus and former football player, is using his engineering knowledge and linebacker experience to lead the charge in football headgear safety and innovation. In Brush’s role as head of research and development at LIGHT Helmets, he achieved a major milestone: his Apache helmet design was rated the safest football helmet ever tested by Virginia Tech’s renowned helmet lab.
The achievement highlights LIGHT Helmets’ focus on reducing impact energy by lowering helmet weight without compromising protection. “It’s a balancing act,” Brush explains, “but we’re aiming for a complete, polished product with minimal mass.”
Brush’s design uses an impact-modified nylon shell and a 3D-printed liner of compressible pods with variable stiffness. This approach allows the helmet to absorb more energy than traditional foam models and extend the duration of impacts—helping reduce their severity.
It’s innovative design and injury prevention performance has led to NFL players across 30 of 32 teams now wearing the helmets.
For Brush, who once called plays from the middle of the field, it’s deeply rewarding to help make the game safer for players at every level—combining his passions for football, engineering, and innovation.
Source: MIT
