Randall McDaniel's helmet | Pro Football Hall of Fame (2024)

FAQs

Who was the first NFL player to wear a tinted visor? ›

Although the visor and facemask had received upgrades over the years, the shell is the original helmet that was issued to McDaniel after he was drafted in the first round of the 1988 NFL Draft. McDaniel is believed to be the first NFL player to wear a tinted visor on his helmet.

Randall Cornell McDaniel (born December 19, 1964) is an American former football guard who played in the National Football League (NFL), primarily with the Minnesota Vikings and two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2009.

McDaniel was selected in the first round of the 1988 NFL Draft by Minnesota. He played 15 seasons in the league with the Vikings and Tampa Bay and secured 12 trips to the Pro Bowl. Named NFL/True Value Man of the Year for his charity work in 1996, he is a current nominee for the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

The rule is basically the same across all leagues (MS, HS, NCAA, NFL, CFL)- it states that visors are only allowed in game play if they are 100% clear unless you have a medical excuse that requires you to have tint to protect your eyes.

Joe Theismann (1983)

Theismann led the NFL in game-winning drives (four) and was second in passing touchdowns. Why Theismann didn't make the HOF: Theismann was just 25th all-time in passing touchdowns (160) and 21st in passing yards (25,206) by the time he was forced to retire due to a broken leg in 1985.

After retiring from the NFL in 2002, McDaniel continued his commitment to youth and education. He spent the next 19 years working as an Elementary School Basic Skills Instructor in Robbinsdale (MN) before retiring in 2021. McDaniel earned a bachelor's degree in physical education from Arizona State.

The Minnesota Vikings used their first round selection (19th overall) in the 1988 NFL Draft on guard Randall McDaniel, an All-America and four-year starter from Arizona State.

When was Randall McDaniel drafted? ›

Randall McDaniel was drafted by the Vikings out of Arizona State as the 19th overall pick in 1988. The fierce Guard played in the NFL for 14 seasons with a streak of 202 consecutive starts during his career.

Clear and tinted visors were legal for football players in the National Football League (NFL) from 1985 to 1998, when the rule was changed to prohibit them. The league cited safety concerns as the reason for the change.

If a player suffers from migraines or is sensitive to sunlight, he'll need a medical exemption to put a tinted visor on his helmet as a replacement for the permitted clear visor.

The league banned tinted visors in 1998, with the exception of those few medical situations, for safety reasons.

An eyeshield is a piece of football equipment that is also referred to as a visor that was created in the 1980s. In the mid 1990s as an effort to prevent brain and head injuries, headgear became mandatory in the game of football.