Riddell Continues Smarter Football Grants to Invest in Football Programs Nationwide

DES PLAINES, Ill. (August 24, 2026) Riddell, the industry leader in football helmet technology and sports protection innovation, today announced the evolution of Smarter Football, a grant program designed to expand access to advanced equipment and technology while recognizing high school football programs committed to continually improving the experience for their athletes.

As a continuation of the initiative, Riddell has selected 11 high school football programs nationwide to receive Smarter Football grants. Each recipient will receive a $15,000 starter grant featuring Riddell Axiom smart helmets, Riddell Power shoulder pads, a GSI tackling equipment package, and a one-year subscription to InSite Analytics. 

“Smarter Football reflects our belief that innovation can make the greatest difference when we put it directly into the hands of the programs and athletes we serve,” said Erin Griffin, senior vice president of marketing and communications, Riddell. “By bringing this initiative back, we have an opportunity to recognize teams that are committed to continually getting better while expanding access to equipment and technology that can help them do just that.”

The 2026 Smarter Football grant recipients are:

• Guilderland High School — Guilderland Center, N.Y.
• Bellport High School — Brookhaven, N.Y.
• Breckinridge County High School — Harned, Ky.
• Kimberly High School — Kimberly, Wis.
• University High School — Spokane, Wash.
• American Leadership Academy – Queen Creek — Queen Creek, Ariz.
• Academic Magnet High School — North Charleston, S.C.
• Shiner ISD — Shiner, Texas
• Mantachie High School — Mantachie, Miss.
• Bishop Carroll High School — Wichita, Kan.
• Radford High School — Radford, Va.

Smarter Football is part of Riddell in the Community, the company’s broader commitment to supporting and strengthening football through community investment. Through Smarter Football and relationships with organizations across the sport, Riddell is helping expand access to equipment, technology, and resources that benefit athletes and programs at the grassroots level.

The initiative builds on Riddell’s longstanding commitment to advancing football through innovation and supporting the people and communities that make the game possible.

To learn more about Riddell’s community giveback strategy, visit news.riddell.com/community.

About Riddell

Riddell was founded with a goal of giving back to the football community while advancing and improving athlete protection through advanced technologies. As the long-standing leader in football head protection and protective athletic equipment for 95 years, Riddell is leading the game to a strong future by creating a path to next generation protection through products and services such as Riddell Axiom and InSite Analytics. Riddell also offers best-in-class reconditioning services to help ensure athletes have access to clean, sanitized, and recertified equipment. Off the field, Riddell’s licensed collectibles business is regarded as the cornerstone of football collectibles for fans and collectors of college and the NFL. For more information, visit www.riddell.com or follow @RiddellSports on Instagram, X, TikTok, Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.