The Green Bay Packers are constantly finding ways to protect Aaron Rodgers, especially his blind side.
The two-time NFL MVP caught football players at three California high schools near his hometown off guard by helping to protect their safety with a recent donation of 375 football helmets.
As first reported by MaxPreps correspondent and
Sacramento Bee writer Joe Davidson, Rodgers gifted the VICIS ZERO1 models to
Paradise,
Chico and his alma mater
Pleasant Valley (Chico). According to safety experts, the helmets are the highest rated headgear in the game.
Aaron Rodgers high school highlights Rodgers threw for 4,421 yards in his two-year varsity career at Pleasant Valley.
Paradise's junior varsity squad sported their new gold helmets during its first game Aug. 23 against Williams.
That game drew
national attention after the city of Paradise was largely destroyed by the Nov. 8 Camp Fire, which took 86 lives and more than 18,000 structures. The Aug. 23 game was the first football game since the fire and was considered the city's first true revival.
The
Paradise varsity has yet to wear the helmets, but head coach Rick Prinz told Davidson: "Not one time have I ever had to ask Aaron for anything. He calls or texts every year and says, ‘Coach, here is what I would like to do. Is this OK?' He does so much for our school and community that most people have no idea."
Prinz said the school and football team has been overwhelmed with donations sent from throughout the country. At the opening kickoff of its varsity opener, the Williams squad handed over a check — reported at more than $3,000 — it had raised for the Paradise program.
In a release, Rodgers said: "For me, this is a chance to step up and support the community where I was born and raised. I chose to invest in VICIS because of their ultimate commitment to player protection. These kids deserve the best, and I'm happy to play a small role in outfitting them with the safest helmets."
The Paradise junior varsity team broke out the VICIS ZERO1 helmets in its Aug. 23 opener with Williams.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
Paradise principal Jeff Marcus accepts a check from Williams athletic director Dan McDonald as Bobcats' head coach Rick Prinz looks on before the coin toss of the varsity game on Aug. 23.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
