Football players do still wear knee pads; they are just much harder to see. The NFL has required knee and thigh pads for every player except kickers and punters since the 2013 season, and college and high school rules require them too. What changed is the equipment: today’s pads are thin inserts, often built into compression shorts, and many skill players wear pants cut at or above the knee, which makes it look like they are playing without them.
The NFL Made Knee Pads Mandatory Again in 2013
Knee and thigh pads were mandatory in the NFL from 1979 to 1994, then optional starting in 1995. Over the next two decades many receivers, running backs and defensive backs stopped wearing them, and some veterans told rookies to shed the pads they had worn in college. In 2012 the league’s owners voted to require them again starting in 2013, citing player safety, a level playing field and consistency with the college and high school game, where the pads were already required. Players were given more than 30 approved options, including compression shorts with pads sewn in.
How the Rule Is Enforced
League uniform inspectors check players during warmups and throughout games. If a player is found without the required pads, the team is told, and he is not allowed back on the field until the problem is fixed. The league has also issued regular reminders to teams since the rule took effect. Kickers and punters are the only exemption.
Why Players Resisted the Pads
When the rule was announced, several players said the pads slowed them down, and some vowed to ignore it. The main complaints were weight, heat and feel, especially for receivers and defensive backs who rely on speed. That is why most NFL players now choose the thinnest approved option, and why the pads often sit on the lower thigh rather than over the kneecap.
Do Knee Pads Prevent Injuries?
Knee pads protect against bruises, cuts and direct hits to the knee from helmets, cleats and the ground, especially on artificial turf. They do not prevent ligament injuries like ACL tears, which usually happen when a player plants or twists, and players have long pointed that out. The case for wearing them is protection from contact injuries, not every knee injury.
Knee Pad Rules in College and High School
The NCAA and the National Federation of State High School Associations both require knee pads and pants that cover the knee. High school officials in particular have emphasized that the pads must completely cover the knee, since many younger players copy what they see college and pro players wear on TV.
The Bottom Line
Football players have not stopped wearing knee pads; the NFL has required them since 2013. The pads are just slimmer, and shorter pants make them easy to miss. Details on the league’s equipment rules are available from NFL Football Operations, and the NFHS publishes the high school rules.
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