Gallaudet University, a private college in Washington D.C. for students that are deaf or hard of hearing, partnered with AT&T to produce football helmets that would allow its players to visually see play calls on the field.

A coach on the sideline would select a play on a tablet which would then be sent to the player’s helmet on a small display screen. The helmet utilizes 5-G connections and augmented reality to show plays inside a player’s helmet, and the speed of the transmission is claimed to be just as quick as if a coach called the play from the sideline.

Gallaudet competes in Division III and has already been approved by the NCAA to wear this helmet in its game against Hilbert on Saturday.

“We work out the same way as every other college football program, we practice the same way, we compete the same way,” Gallaudet head coach Chuck Goldstein said. “The difference between coaching a hearing team compared to a Deaf team is first the communication. The AT&T 5G-connected helmet will change football.”

AT&T will also be donating $500,000 to the Gallaudet football program as thanks for the school’s collaboration on the project.

Gallaudet and Hilbert will both be searching for their first wins of the season this weekend, as both teams stand at 0-4 entering this contest.

AT&T and Gallaudet University, a school for deaf and hard of hearing students, have created the first 5G-connected football helmet.

Coaches can select a play from a tablet and send the play to a lens inside the helmet. QB receives play on the digital display within the visor: pic.twitter.com/a72V57nCiz

— Nicole Auerbach (@NicoleAuerbach) October 5, 2023