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• Comment: In accordance with Wikipedia's Conflict of interest guideline, I disclose that I have a conflict of interest regarding the subject of this article. Sambannon (talk) 17:34, 5 February 2026 (UTC)

VICIS (a brand of Certor Sports) is a United States company that manufactures protective gear for American football. Products manufactured by VICIS, headquartered in Plainfield, Indiana, includes helmets and other protective products such as shoulder pads. VICIS is known for its ZERO2 helmet and soft shell technology, which can be seen at or near the top of NFL and Virginia Tech helmet ratings.^[1]

VICIS was founded in 2013 in Seattle, Washington by Dr. Samuel Browd, a neurosurgeon at Seattle Children's Hospital and Per Reinhall, the chair of University of Washington's Mechanical Engineering Department. Browd and other early VICIS leaders called the company "Spark Medical," as the company was originally a division of the University of Washington.^[2] Despite significant early investments, the company went bankrupt and was sold to Innovatus Capital Partners in April 2020,^[3] eight months before Innovatus Capital Partners purchased also-bankrupt Schutt in December 2020.^[4] VICIS, Schutt, and TUCCI now operate under the Certor Sports brand name in Plainfield, IN.

VICIS was founded in 2013 in Seattle, Washington by Dr. Samuel Browd, a neurosurgeon at Seattle Children's Hospital and Per Reinhall, the chair of University of Washington's Mechanical Engineering Department. Despite $85M raised in investments, VICIS quickly ran out of cash. CEO Dave Marver stepped down on Nov 22, 2018, and board member Ralph Greene assumed the interim CEO role two days later. Greene immediately furloughed 110 people of the company's 122-person company and told investors that the company would either go bankrupt or keep the company alive at a $5M valuation.^[5]

Following a three-month selling process, VICIS was purchased by Innovatus Capital Partners in April 2020 for $2.85M.^[6] Following a COVID-19-related downturn that impacted Schutt, Schutt also declared bankruptcy in December 2020. Schutt was also purchased by Innovartus Capital Partners, which put Schutt's brand and VICIS under one new company, which they named Certor Sports.^[7] The company was moved to Plainfield, IN in October 2021, where VICIS and Schutt still maintain operations under the Certor Sports brand. ^[8]

The first helmet that VICIS released was called the ZERO1, which was the first helmet to have VICIS soft-shell technology. The ZERO1 was first launched in 2017, a little over three years after the company's inception.^[9] The ZERO1 retailed for $1,500 when first launched.^[10]

The ZERO1 became the top helmet on the NFL helmet rating chart^[11] and the Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings.^[12] Additionally, VICIS investors at the time included Aaron Rodgers, Russell Wilson, and Doug Baldwin. Despite the ratings and the investors, VICIS lost nearly $30M in 2019, leading to its eventual sale.^[13] Part of the reason why the ZERO1 failed to fully penetrate the market was its high pricepoint and many of Riddell's exclusive partnerships with several prominent youth leagues, including AYF, Pop Warner, and USA Football.^[14]

Following the company's sale in 2020, VICIS, now under Certor Sports, released the ZERO2 and ZERO2 TRENCH in 2021. It featured greater protection at a lower weight from the ZERO1. Similarly, the ZERO2 climbed to the top of the NFL^[15] and Virgina Tech helmet lists.^[16]

The ZERO2 TRENCH, released in 2021, became the first-ever position-specific helmet created for football. Designed for linemen, the ZERO2 TRENCH's helmet shape is engineered to mitigate "reptitive, low-velocity impacts," or continual subconcussive blows that linemen often endure.^[17]

In 2023, VICIS launched the ZERO2 QB Elite model, the first QB-specific helmet to be released. Many quarterback hits are helmet-to-ground (rather than helmet-to-helmet like other positions), so the ZERO2 QB was engineered to be more protective on helmet-to-ground impacts.^[18] Some quarterbacks who switched into ZERO2 QB model include Patrick Mahomes, Trevor Lawrence, Tua Tagovailoa and former VICIS investors Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson.

VICIS helmets utilize a soft-shell technology, meaning the outer shell of the helmet bends and flexes when hit. VICIS likens this to a deforming car bumper, which absorbs the impact before it reaches the player's head.^[19]

VICIS helmets were also the first to utilize a pod-fitting system. Made with impact-absorbing material, the VICIS DLTA Pods allow helmet sizes to be easily configured.^[20]

Additionally, VICIS helmets have an enhanced field-of-view, with the side of the helmet at eye-level cut out.^[21]

VICIS also has some position-specific models, the first to release a linemen helmet (ZERO2 TRENCH)^[22] and the first to release a quarterback helmet (ZERO2 QB)^[23]. Riddell has since created their own linemen and quarterback helmets under the Axiom model name, but they are not available outside of the NFL and NCAA.^[24] The position-specific helmets have different padding in different areas to help lessen specific impacts that some positions adversely face.

Starting with the 2024 NFL Season, Schutt and VICIS became the official helmet sponsor of the Indianapolis Colts. This partnership included a Certor Sports presence at Colts Training Camp, Colts home games, and Colts "Friday Night Lights" high school football events.^[25]

In April 2024, VICIS announced a partnership with Elite 11 to provide the quarterbacks at the camp custom-fit VICIS ZERO2 QB helmets.^[26]

In January 2025, Certor Sports, parent company of Schutt and VICIS, announced a partnership with Guardian Sports, the manufacturer of the Guardian Cap. Schutt and VICIS are the preferred helmet brands of Guardian Cap.^[27]

• Riddell Sports Group
• Schutt Sports