The Q-Collar shows the power of protecting what a helmet can't.
Kyren Williams announced a new partnership with Q30 Innovations this week, posting alongside the brand with a simple message: "There are no shortcuts when it comes to preparing for the biggest moments — and that includes protecting my most important asset." He's rushed for more than 1,100 yards in each of the last three seasons, scoring 44 touchdowns for a Rams offense that led the league in scoring in 2025. He's not hedging on speed or physicality. The collar is now part of how he plays.
"The goal as a running back is to evade contact, but we all know that's not entirely possible," Williams said. "Q-Collar allows me to play fast and strong when hitting holes and acts as an added layer of protection for my brain health and safety as I get hit throughout the season."
What Is the Q-Collar?
The Q-Collar is the only FDA-cleared piece of equipment designed to help protect the brain from the effects of repetitive head impacts in sports. It's a contoured band worn around the neck, weighing about 4 ounces, engineered to sit securely through practice and play without limiting range of motion. The device works by applying light, controlled pressure to the neck, creating a partial occlusion of the jugular veins and a slight increase in blood volume inside the head. That added volume helps reduce how much the brain moves inside the skull on impact — similar to how a seatbelt keeps a body secure in a car.
It was cleared by the FDA in February 2021 after a full review of the research behind it, and it's now permitted for use across the NFL, NCAA, NHL, MLS, and USA Lacrosse, among other leagues.
Why Brain Movement Matters More Than the Hit Itself
Helmets are built to protect the skull from direct impact, spreading the force of a hit over a larger surface area. What they can't do is stop the brain from moving inside the skull, which is the mechanism behind most serious head injuries. The Q-Collar is built to work on that gap specifically, addressing the movement rather than the blow.
The research behind it is substantial: 25-plus peer-reviewed studies, conducted across institutions including Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Boston Children's Hospital, NorthShore University Health, and West Virginia University, using pre- and post-season MRI scans to measure white matter changes in athletes' brains. Across trials tracking more than 500,000 recorded impacts, athletes wearing the collar showed no significant difference in performance metrics — strength, balance, blood oxygen, endurance — compared to those without it. The device has no reported adverse events across more than 45,000 active users.
The headline number: a 66 percent reduction in the likelihood of brain damage over a season of contact-sports play, compared to athletes not wearing the collar.
Why This Matters for a Running Back Specifically
Running back is one of the most physically punishing positions in football, and one with a short average career window. Williams isn't a marginal player experimenting with new equipment — he's a workhorse back entering a stage of his career where cumulative impact is the real cost of doing the job. Wearing the collar doesn't change how he runs. It changes what happens to his brain every time he doesn't get out of bounds in time.
"As conversations around brain health continue to evolve across sports, athletes like Kyren are helping lead the way by showing that protecting your future and maximizing your performance are not competing priorities," said Tom Hoey, CEO and co-founder of Q30 Innovations. "They go hand in hand."
The Bottom Line
Kyren Williams built his reputation running through contact. The Q-Collar doesn't change that approach — it just makes sure the cost of it is lower than it used to be. FDA-cleared, backed by over a decade of research, and worn without a single tradeoff in performance.
Learn more about the Q-Collar at q30.com.
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