I think the last paragraph really sums up why this drastic of a change is not going to happen: "Without the helmet, they wouldn't hit their head in stupid play

I think the last paragraph really sums up why this drastic of a change is not going to happen: "Without the helmet, they wouldn't hit their head in stupid plays," says P. David Halstead, technical director for the Nocsae, the group that sets helmet-safety standards. But without helmets, the game "wouldn't be football," he says. There may be a sport similar to American football without helmets right now that becomes very popular in coming years. However I don't see such a drastic change ever being applied to American football directly.