Cohen Craddock, An eighth grader in West Virginia, died on Saturday following a fatal collision in football practice.
Craddock was just three days into the school year at Madison Middle School when he sustained a head injury during practice with his school football team, the Redhawks. The injury occurred on Friday and he was instantly taken to hospital, but the Boone County Ambulance Authority announced that he had passed the following day.
Boone County Schools Superintendent Matthew Riggs said: "As a Redhawk, Cohen was loved by his classmates, his teachers, his administrators, and the entire Madison Middle School staff. Cohen was also a member and leader of the Redhawks’ Football Team. ... Our thoughts and prayers go out to Cohen’s family, friends, teammates, classmates, and the entire MMS staff.
"As our thoughts and prayers go out to Cohen’s family, we would ask that same from the community in that his family may find healing, comfort, protection, and strength." Ryan Craddock, his father, confirmed to NBC News that his son collided with his peers and hit his head after falling.
"That created brain swelling, which started a snowball effect, which ultimately led to him passing away," Ryan Craddock said. Cohen is now the third student football player to die within the opening weeks of this school year, and his father wants to urgently raise awareness following the tragedy.
Craddock wants the school to start using Guardian Cap helmets, which have been used throughout NFL training camp this offseason. The extra-padded headgear was mandated for certain positions during training camps in 2022 and 2023, but for the 2024 season, the NFL has allowed players to use the Guardian Caps in regular-season games.
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While they may not be as slick in design when compared to previously worn helmets, NFL executive vice president Jeff Miller said the new headgear has seen a 40 percent reduction in concussions. "We now have two years of data showing significant concussion reductions among players who wear Guardian Caps during practice, so players will be permitted to wear the cap during games this upcoming season," Miller said in April when the regular-season announcement was made.
"Additionally, there are new helmets this year that provide as much -- if not more -- protection than a different helmet model paired with a Guardian Cap. These developments represent substantial progress in our efforts to make the game safer for players."
Craddock wants the headgear to be used by all ages and told NBC : "I think with the Guardian Cap it could have been a little bit of a different outcome. And I would like to at least protect any or all the other kids that I can, starting at the county level, if I can move it on to the state or national level, to push for these kids to start wearing Guardian Caps at least in practice or however far they want to take it."
Craddock has already been in contact with the founders of the Guardian Cap, and claims they're happy to assist Cohen's father achieve his goals. I’m just thinking if it saves one other family from the heartache that my family’s experiencing at the moment, it’ll all be worth it," Craddock added. "I know Cohen would want this, too. And he wouldn’t want me to wait or delay this."
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