King notes that while sitting with Staley just outside the team's locker room, the 34-year-old veteran doesn't appear too beat up from his 12 seasons in the NFL. He does, however, have a scar across the bridge of his nose.
The helmet he started wearing in 2003 while at Central Michigan is now banned by the NFL. It's considered a dinosaur, too unsafe to be used by players today. Staley notes that he has only had two concussions since that first year with the Chippewas, including his time in the NFL. He notes that they were minor ones which didn't leave him too concerned.
"I tried to change in 2012 just because I knew my helmet wasn't ... the safety standards were just starting to come out then," Staley noted. "I knew my helmet wasn't that great so I tried to change in 2012, and went through the whole entire offseason with it.
"Then I went and played the first game against the Green Bay Packers in Lambeau, opening [game]. That's the game where I broke my nose, and a bunch of skin fell off my nose. I have a scar still from it because my helmet didn't fit right. Every time I would block, the bridge of my helmet would just bang down on my nose."
Staley returned to using his previous helmet because it never caused a problem and it fit correctly.
"I didn't really care if it protected my head," Staley continued. "I didn't get concussions, and it didn't break my nose."
Calling Staley's helmet a dinosaur is probably fitting. The veteran tackle jokes that he is so old that his helmet isn't even on the list of available equipment anymore.
You can listen to the entire interview with Staley, and King's investigation into helmet safety, below.
Click here to view the full article where embedded code is fully supported
More San Francisco 49ers News
-
Peter Schrager doubts Brock Purdy will earn over $55M annually from 49ers
The San Francisco 49ers would undoubtedly prefer to resolve their quarterback situation sooner rather than later. The team is negotiating with Brock Purdy on a contract extension, sparking significant debate about his standing among the NFL's top quarterbacks and market... -
Insider: 'There's not a rush' in 49ers-Brock Purdy contract talks
Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers would ideally like to finalize a contract extension sooner rather than later. However, we always knew these negotiations were going to be complicated. Both sides must determine where Purdy ranks among NFL quarterbacks—a key factor... -
Insider: 49ers open to trading Brandon Aiyuk amid talks with several teams
FOX Sports insider Jordan Schultz weighed in on the ongoing situation between the San Francisco 49ers and wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk. "Sources indicate that the 49ers are open to trading Aiyuk — a terrific player who will certainly be motivated — and there has... -
Insider: I don't think Brock Purdy holds out amid 49ers contract talks
In January, San Francisco 49ers management and quarterback Brock Purdy expressed a mutual desire to finalize a contract extension as quickly as possible. When asked if he might sit out organized team activities (OTAs) or minicamps should negotiations stall, Purdy acknowledged...