2025 NFL Draft Hopeful Dillon Gabriel Leads Youth Football Concussion Safety Effort

On an October afternoon in 2022, Dillon Gabriel lay motionless on the turf, his head slammed into the ground by a late hit. The Oklahoma quarterback had just suffered a concussion—one that sidelined him, shook his confidence and reshaped his sense of purpose.

Now, after leading Oregon to an undefeated season, becoming a Heisman finalist and on the verge of being drafted into the NFL, Gabriel is using his platform to protect the next generation of athletes from the injuries that once threatened his dream.

The Hawaii native is giving back to the youth football program that shaped him, leveraging his NIL success to raise awareness about concussions and player safety.

One partner is Echelon Fitness, which on April 22 helped him donate state-of-the-art training and recovery equipment to his alma mater, Mililani High School. The gift follows a 2023 NIL partnership with Vicis Helmets that provided $65,000 worth of advanced helmets to the school’s football team.

“I love investing in relationships and being able to help other people,” Gabriel said. “I understand that when I had that certain resource in college… it allowed me to excel and play at a high level and maximize my opportunity.”

NFL Concussion Safety

After graduating from Mililani High School in 2018 as Hawaii’s all-time prep passing leader, Gabriel began his college career at the University of Central Florida. He later transferred to Oklahoma, where he spent two seasons before joining Oregon in 2024.

That final season with the Ducks proved historic, as Gabriel led them to an undefeated record and earned a spot as a Heisman Trophy finalist.

Over his collegiate career, he completed 1,347 passes for 18,423 yards and 153 touchdowns, adding 33 more on the ground. His on-field success attracted NIL deals with brands like Great Clips and Celsius, but it’s his work with Vicis that reflects a deeper commitment.

Gabriel’s devotion to head safety is personal.

In a 2022 game against TCU, he slid feet-first after a run and was hit by a lowered shoulder that knocked his head to the turf. He lay prone for several minutes before being helped off the field, missing the rest of the game and his next start.

“[Having a concussion] is a weird experience,” Gabriel said. “You feel normal, but something’s off. I started researching—diet, sleep, staying off my phone. Then I looked into prevention.”

Key to that prevention is having the right equipment.

His mother, Dori, discovered the Vicis Zero2-R Matrix ID helmet, a quarterback-specific model approved by the NFL and NFLPA in 2023. The model gained attention in 2022 when fellow Oahu native Tua Tagovailoa started using it after suffering multiple concussions playing for the Miami Dolphins, prompting him and others to adopt more advanced helmet technology.

The Vicis helmet uses a flexible outer shell that absorbs force more effectively and an interior built from layers that disperse the energy synonymous with big hits. Designed to reduce head-to-ground impact specifically, it’s one of eight new position-specific helmets intended to address unique injury risks by role.

“As a quarterback, you’re often in positions where you can’t protect yourself,” Gabriel said. “You need the best safety tech, because guys are flying at you at 23 miles per hour while you’re standing still. You’re the parked car in the accident.”

Football accounts for 36% of all reported concussions among high school athletes, with 6.9 concussions per 10,000 athletes participating in a practice or game.

Gabriel’s Inspiration

Gabriel’s investment in Mililani started in 2020, when he donated backpacks to the school’s basketball team, which is coached by his father, Garrett. Over the next two years, he added Nike uniforms and shoes for student-athletes.

In 2024, Gabriel organized an event called “I’m Inspired,” where he donated new uniforms and 50 Vicis helmets to the football team that launched his career.

Gabriel had connected with Vesco over Instagram and shared his belief in the helmet technology, leading to an NIL agreement that made the quarterback a face for the product. His request for that partnership: state-of-the-art equipment for his fellow Mililani Trojans.

“It’s really cool to see someone take that privilege and the opportunity to achieve wealth at an early age and have the mindset to do good things with it and give back,” said Zack Vesco, Vicis’s brand manager.

“With Dillon’s love for the sport and for Mililani, it meant everything to us that Vicis said yes,” added Dori Gabriel. “They believed in his vision, and they rose to the occasion.”

That vision has enabled Gabriel to keep his eye on the ultimate prize, continuing his career with an NFL team. He is currently projected as a third- or fourth-round pick, possibly going to Miami to back up Tagovailoa, with NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper including Gabriel in his top 10 quarterback rankings.

Gabriel said he recognizes it is a dream to be considered one of the best quarterback prospects in this year’s draft, but it is also just the beginning of the next stage in his journey. No matter where it takes him, Gabriel said he will continue to find ways to support those who come next.

“Don’t always look inward at what money can do for you,” Gabriel said. “The feeling you get from giving back and the impact it creates—that’s what matters. I told the athletes, ‘All you need is one believer in your athletic journey to spark motivation and inspiration.’ I want them to know they have a believer in me.”