# NFL QB's - Green Dots on Back of Helmets? Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 12, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-qbs-green-dots-on-back-of-helmets-why/437319 "2008-02-12T19:52:26Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-qbs-green-dots-on-back-of-helmets-why/437319/1 "2008-02-12T19:52:26Z")
Okay - I finally remembered to post this question which hit me any time I watched a game this season. Why did the QB’s of each NFL team have a lime-green dot on the back of their helmets? It was maybe the size of a nickel or quarter, right in the center, usually over the center color-stripe about 4 - 5 inches up from the base of the helmet in the back. - I had never noticed them before this season - Once I noticed, I looked, but only saw them on QB’s - but there was one on EVERY QB’s helmet - They look to be just a sticker, not anything thicker or electronic or anything. Any clues? I first remembered to post this in MPSIMS in the “confess your ignorance” thread but realized that that thread appears to be looking for something different. ---
**Author:** ![SCSimmons](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e495f1/32.png) [@SCSimmons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SCSimmons)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-qbs-green-dots-on-back-of-helmets-why/437319/2 "2008-02-12T19:55:30Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] Okay - I finally remembered to post this question which hit me any time I watched a game this season. Why did the QB’s of each NFL team have a lime-green dot on the back of their helmets? It was maybe the size of a nickel or quarter, right in the center, usually over the center color-stripe about 4 - 5 inches up from the base of the helmet in the back. - I had never noticed them before this season - Once I noticed, I looked, but only saw them on QB’s - but there was one on EVERY QB’s helmet - They look to be just a sticker, not anything thicker or electronic or anything. Any clues? I first remembered to post this in MPSIMS in the “confess your ignorance” thread but realized that that thread appears to be looking for something different. [/QUOTE] Those stickers mark the helmets that have radios installed. Only QB’s are allowed to wear those helmets, and only one can be in use on the field at one time; the stickers prevent mixups by the players and allow the referees to call appropriate penalties if the rule is broken. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-qbs-green-dots-on-back-of-helmets-why/437319/3 "2008-02-12T19:55:33Z")
It indicates a helmet with communications gear. There was another GQ thread about it earlier during the season. ---
**Author:** ![Flander](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8c91f0/32.png) [@Flander](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flander)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-qbs-green-dots-on-back-of-helmets-why/437319/4 "2008-02-12T19:55:51Z")
It’s to indicate which player has a radio in their helmet. ---
**Author:** ![WordMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e8c25b/32.png) [@WordMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WordMan)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-qbs-green-dots-on-back-of-helmets-why/437319/5 "2008-02-12T20:04:26Z")
two observations: - a 3-minute turnaround time - Dopers are da’ best; thanks! - judging by the simul-post responses - I wonder if the radio in their helmets was playing **Rio by Duran Duran**?\* 😃 \*for those not in the know regarding Doper lore, there was a thread where someone wanted a CD identified and about 50 people replied at once with the same answer… ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-qbs-green-dots-on-back-of-helmets-why/437319/6 "2008-02-12T20:04:45Z")
I heard it shows that the helmet has some sort of communications device in it. ---
**Author:** ![lieu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/c2a13f/32.png) [@lieu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lieu)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-qbs-green-dots-on-back-of-helmets-why/437319/7 "2008-02-12T20:08:31Z")
If I’m not mistaken, there’s also a time element on radio use. I believe they must be turned off when the 45 second clock gets down to what… 15 seconds? I assume they want to allow defensive blitzes to occur without last second warnings from the sidelines, don’t want notification a receiver’s become open, etc. ---
**Author:** ![BarnOwl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/e95f7d/32.png) [@BarnOwl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BarnOwl)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-qbs-green-dots-on-back-of-helmets-why/437319/8 "2008-02-12T20:17:27Z")
[QUOTE=lieu] If I’m not mistaken, there’s also a time element on radio use. I believe they must be turned off when the 45 second clock gets down to what… 15 seconds? I assume they want to allow defensive blitzes to occur without last second warnings from the sidelines, don’t want notification a receiver’s become open, etc. [/QUOTE] Interesting point, **lieu**. If 45 seconds is the rule, there might be a definite advantage to No-Huddle. A QB could get a play off well before that time limit and get messages from the sidelines like blitzes and open receivers. But maybe another rule takes over - radio shutdown when the ball is snapped. ---
**Author:** ![Hostile\_Dialect](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e495f1/32.png) [@Hostile\_Dialect](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hostile_Dialect)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-qbs-green-dots-on-back-of-helmets-why/437319/9 "2008-02-12T20:48:25Z")
> [@BarnOwl](#): > > If 45 seconds is the rule, there might be a definite advantage to No-Huddle. A QB could get a play off well before that time limit and get messages from the sidelines like blitzes and open receivers. > > But maybe another rule takes over - radio shutdown when the ball is snapped. Yes, but since the QB will be at the line long before the 45 second limit is over, he’s still giving his coaches time to pick up a blitz, interesting defensive formation, etc. and tell him about it. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-qbs-green-dots-on-back-of-helmets-why/437319/10 "2008-02-12T21:04:43Z")
Did you remember to turn off the power, first? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2008, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-qbs-green-dots-on-back-of-helmets-why/437319/11 "2008-02-12T23:46:22Z")
Just to be clear, it is a one-way system. The sideline coach talks, the QB listens. He cannot reply. The backup QB also has a reciever in his helmet, and sometimes you’ll see him holding his helmet up to his ear. ---
**Author:** ![Una\_Persson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/una_persson/32/346_2.png) [@Una\_Persson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Una_Persson)\ **Post date:** [February 13, 2008, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/nfl-qbs-green-dots-on-back-of-helmets-why/437319/12 "2008-02-13T01:17:33Z")
[QUOTE=WordMan] \*for those not in the know regarding Doper lore, there was a thread where someone wanted a CD identified and about 50 people replied at once with the same answer… [/QUOTE] So _that’s_ where that idiocy came from. I wondered, but just not enough to ask.