Football Facemask Styles | Pick The Right Bar Layout

Choosing a football facemask style comes down to one trade-off: how much face protection you want versus how wide a field of view you need. The bars that shield your nose and jaw are the same bars that can block your peripheral vision on a deep pass or a cut-back run. Position, league rules, and safety all factor into the decision, and the terminology used by equipment makers can feel like a second language until you know what each label means.

This guide breaks down the common facemask style names, what each bar layout is built for, and the NFL rules that govern both equipment and on-field contact.

Common Facemask Styles And What They Mean

Most football facemask style names describe the bar configuration — how many horizontal and vertical bars wrap around the face, and where they sit. Retailers and coaches use a few standard labels you will see across equipment catalogs.

Oral Protection Only (OPO)

The OPO is the “default” look in one common terminology system. Two horizontal bars wrap around the nose area, leaving the eyes and most of the face open. It is a light, low-profile option that gives a quarterback or receiver a nearly unobstructed view downfield.

OPO-2 and OPO-SW

OPO-2 keeps the same two horizontal bars as the OPO but adds a third vertical bar down the center of the face. That gives slightly more protection for the nose and upper lip without adding much weight.

Single-Bar and Two-Bar Facemasks

The single-bar facemask is exactly what the name says: one horizontal bar protecting the nose and upper lip. It is favored for visibility and often associated with positions that need a wide field of vision.

Open Cage vs. Closed Cage

Open cages use fewer bars and keep the eye area clear — the standard choice for quarterbacks, wide receivers, and defensive backs. Closed cages (full cages) pack more bars, especially along the bottom half of the helmet, to protect the jaw and teeth. Linemen and other contact-heavy roles almost always wear full cages because they take more repeated blows to the face.

Materials: What Facemasks Are Made Of

Facemasks are commonly made from carbon steel, stainless steel, or titanium. Carbon steel is the budget standard — strong and affordable but heavier and prone to rust if the coating chips. Stainless steel resists corrosion and weighs about the same as carbon steel. Titanium is the premium option: lighter than steel with similar strength, which is why it shows up on higher-end helmets where every ounce counts.

How To Choose A Facemask Style By Position

Match the bar pattern to the demands of the position. The consistent guidance from equipment makers and coaches is simple: open layouts for skill positions, enclosed layouts for linemen.

• Quarterbacks, wide receivers, defensive backs: open cages or OPO styles that keep the eyes clear and peripheral vision open.
• Offensive and defensive linemen: closed cages or three-bar designs that protect the jaw, nose, and teeth from constant contact.
• Linebackers and running backs: a middle ground — two-bar or OPO-2 layouts that balance vision with protection.

Weight matters too. A heavier steel cage on a lineman who rarely needs to scan the field is fine; the same cage on a quarterback who has to read coverage will slow his head movement. Titanium solves that trade for players who can afford it and want both light weight and protection.

NFL Rules On Facemasks: Equipment And Penalties

NFL rules treat facemasks in two completely separate ways: what you are allowed to wear, and how you are allowed to touch an opponent’s.

The 15-Yard Penalty Rule

The NFL Rulebook spells out the facemask foul under Rule 12, Section 2, Article 15: grasping, twisting, turning, pushing, or pulling an opponent’s facemask or helmet opening is a 15-yard penalty. If the defense commits it, it is also an automatic first down. A flagrant action can get the player disqualified. The NFL Video Rulebook adds that a player who grasps the facemask must release it immediately — holding on is the foul.

Helmet-Contact Rule Updates

Incidental contact during a conventional block or tackle remains legal. This is a foul about deliberate use of the helmet, not about the equipment design.

Equipment Restrictions

On the equipment side, the NFL banned non-standard or overbuilt facemasks starting with the 2014 season. League research found these custom masks more often failed safety and certification tests. Players who had prior medical approvals had to be re-evaluated, and customized face masks are not allowed unless a player has a documented medical reason.

Note that sideline rules about face coverings are a different matter entirely — the 2021 COVID protocol memo required mask or gaiter use on the sideline and didn’t allow coaches to rely on a face shield alone.

Before you buy a new cage, check your league’s equipment rules. A highly protective custom mask that looks great might get you flagged or disqualified if your league follows NFL standards. This roundup of the best football facemasks covers the top-rated options by position fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common facemask style in the NFL?

Open-cage facemasks are the most common look across the NFL, especially among quarterbacks and receivers who need maximum visibility. Linemen and other positions that take heavy contact at the line of scrimmage usually wear full cages with more bars. The specific pattern varies by player preference, but the open versus closed distinction is the dividing line.

Can a player wear a custom facemask in the NFL?

Customized facemasks are not allowed unless a player has a documented medical reason. The NFL banned non-standard, overbuilt facemasks for the 2014 season after league research linked them to higher failure rates in safety and certification testing. Players with prior medical approvals had to be re-evaluated before the ban took effect.

What is the difference between a facemask style and a facemask penalty?

A facemask style is the bar configuration on the helmet — the equipment design that balances visibility against protection. A facemask penalty is an illegal on-field action: grasping, twisting, or pulling an opponent’s facemask. The style is about what you wear; the penalty is about what you do with your hands.