The New Orleans Saints will host the Las Vegas Raiders Sunday at noon for their home opener, and every fan throughout the Crescent City is desperately hoping Chris Olave’s guardian-capped helmet will fit inside the Caesars Superdome.

At 6-foot, 185 pounds, Olave is a tiny tot by NFL standards, which is perhaps why his guardian cap looks so preposterously large. If the Saints marketing department opts for a “Chris Olave Bobblehead Day,” they wouldn’t even have to alter the scale.

But without question, Olave has been a man possessed this season, racking up 18 catches for 268 yards in two games, and hauling in a critical touchdown in this week’s win against Baltimore. He’s an elite route-runner who seems to always be open, and Saints fans may have the guardian cap to thank for that.

Olave has a well-documented concussion history, suffering four during his first three seasons in the NFL. The last one was a brutal hit in Carolina that forced him to be removed from the field on a stretcher and ended his 2024 season.

Understandably, Olave contemplated retirement, fearing another brain injury might result in chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or something worse.

Fortunately for Saints fans, Olave decided to take his chances in the 2025 season, pulling in 100 catches for 1,163 yards and nine touchdowns, all career highs. Olave benefitted from playing half the year with Tyler Shough, statistically the best quarterback during his tenure in the NFL.

But if Olave maintains this year’s pace, 2025 will look like merely a prologue to his career season. He’s on track for 153 catches and 2,278 yards, both of which would be NFL records.

Olave told reporters after the season-opening loss to Detroit that he wore the guardian cap during practice, as most players do, and he suffered a hit to the head that he thought might cause him problems, but the cap “kind of saved me,” so he decided to wear it in games.

“I want to live a regular life after football,” Olave said. “I don’t really care how it looks anymore.”

CBS sideline reporter Aditi Kinkhabwala said during Sunday’s broadcast that Olave had mentioned to her he’s more fearless on the field, knowing he’s got the security of the guardian cap. That’s leading to more precise routes, aggressive catches and gaudy numbers that Saints fans are praying novenas can be maintained.

Olave has obviously chosen brain health and success on the field over fashion, and if he’s smart, he’ll lean into it. Big endorsement deals follow the numbers Olave is putting up, and if he’s willing to laugh at himself, he’ll add more commas to his bank account.

Maybe Anthropic or OpenAI will tap Olave as their spokesman, declaring their AI’s brain to be so big it wouldn’t even fit inside Olave’s guardian cap. Maybe Ochsner could sponsor a “Chris Olave Guardian Cap” day at the dome, and provide every kid an old-school leather helmet. How cool would it be to pan out across the stands and see every youngster wearing a faux guardian cap in support of their superstar wide receiver?

Shough delivered some guffaws about the situation during an appearance Tuesday on Wake Up Barstool. Shough was asked if he keys on Olave’s guardian cap when he’s in the pocket.

“Yep, yeah, that’s exactly correct,” Shough deadpanned. “I just look for the padded stuff on the helmet, and I just throw it to him blindly.

This Saints offense is appearing to be loaded with weapons, a tribute to Shough, who’s doing his best Drew Brees impression by elevating the play of everyone around him.

How far the team ultimately goes will depend greatly on its health. If its key players can stay on the field throughout the battle of attrition of a full 17-game NFL season, this team will absolutely make the playoffs, and perhaps go on a run once they get there.

Chris Olave is doing all he can to ensure he’s among the ones who cross the finish line

Fashion be damned.