Updated:
Riddell
Riddell is a sports equipment manufacturer based in Des Plaines, Illinois. Founded in 1929, the company designs and develops football helmets, protective gear,...
Riddell
Riddell is a sports equipment manufacturer based in Des Plaines, Illinois. Founded in 1929, the company designs and develops football helmets, protective gear, and head impact monitoring technologies. Riddell offers products including football helmets and shoulder pads, as well as reconditioning services for existing equipment.
General information
Firm type
Asset Manager
Year founded
1929
AUM
Undisclosed
Location
Region
North America
Country
United States
City
Des Plaines
Corporate office
Des Plaines, IL, United States
Principals
Dan Arment
President and CEO
Sector focus
Frequently asked questions
Who owns Riddell and how is it capitalized?
Fenway Partners, a private equity firm focused on middle-market consumer and industrial companies, acquired Riddell from BRG Sports in 2017. The deal terms were not publicly disclosed. Fenway operates Riddell as a standalone platform investment rather than folding it into a larger portfolio company.
Does Riddell operate any investment or family office vehicles?
No. Riddell is an operating company — a manufacturer and sports technology business — not an investment firm, family office, or asset manager. Its capital allocation is confined to internal product development, manufacturing capacity, and brand licensing. There is no evidence of a venture arm, corporate VC fund, or affiliated family office.
What is the relationship between Riddell and the NFL?
Riddell holds a long-standing official equipment partnership with the National Football League. In May 2024, the company extended that agreement for multiple years (per the NFL, May 2024). Riddell helmets account for a dominant share of NFL on-field equipment, and the firm works directly with the league on safety protocol development.
How does Riddell's technology compare to competitors like VICIS or Xenith?
Riddell differentiates through its installed base and performance data, not purely on lab-test rankings. Its InSite Impact Response System collects head-acceleration data from embedded helmet sensors and transmits it to sideline monitors — a proprietary dataset that VICIS and Xenith cannot replicate at the same scale (per Virginia Tech Helmet Ratings and public product specifications).
Has Riddell faced material litigation risk?
Yes. Riddell has been named in multiple concussion-related lawsuits brought by former players, and in 2013 it settled a class-action claim with retired NFL players as part of the broader league concussion settlement. Fenway Partners' acquisition in 2017 was structured with an awareness of ongoing liability concerns, which remain a known risk factor per public court filings.
Profile maintained by Altss using OSINT (open-source intelligence), regulatory filings, licensed data partners, and verified direct submissions. Read the methodology. Last updated: . Continuous refresh with full update cycles at least every 30 days.
Need institutional-grade insight on asset managers?
Altss delivers:
Prefer a guided tour?
We’ll walk you through: