Erin and Lee Hanson founded the company that makes the Guardian Caps worn by many high school, college football and NFL players.
Lee and Erin Hanson, co-founders of Guardian Sports, hold Guardian Caps with Georgia Tech and UGA logos as they pose for a photo at Guardian Sports’ headquarters, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Peachtree Corners. The Guardian Cap is the leading soft shell helmet cover engineered for impact reduction. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
In homes across the U.S. this holiday season, a familiar sound will likely be heard beneath the din of pots and pans — the crack of football helmets colliding.
A day of gratitude, Thanksgiving and the days surrounding the holiday are intertwined with watching football. One metro Atlanta couple has worked to make a game known for hard hits safer.
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Georgia defensive lineman Christen Miller prepares for a defensive snap against Florida in an NCAA football game at EverBank Stadium, Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, in Jacksonville, Fla. Miller became the first Georgia player to wear a Guardian Cap in a game during the win over Florida. (Jason Getz/AJC)
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Exterior of Hanson Group, which is a material science company that provided the expertise to develop the cap for Guardian Sports, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Peachtree Corners. The Guardian Cap is the leading soft shell helmet cover engineered for impact reduction. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
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Erin Hanson, co-founder of Guardian Sports, holds a lacrosse ball as she shows the warehouse at Guardian Sports’s headquarters, Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2025, in Peachtree Corners. The Guardian Cap is the leading soft shell helmet cover engineered for impact reduction. (Hyosub Shin/AJC)
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Falcons defense get ready to practice during training camp at the Falcons’ headquarters in Flowery Branch on Friday, July 26, 2024. The players are all wearing Guardian Caps. (Arvin Temkar/AJC)
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