['It is currently recommended that helmet and shoulder pads remain in place during the initial clinical and radiographic evaluation of the helmeted athlete with a potential cervical spine injury. The objective of this prospectively designed, single-subject study was to determine whether MRI may play a role in the initial evaluation and management of the helmeted football player with a cervical spine injury.', 'One male athlete was fitted using equipment (football helmet [Riddell], shoulder pads [Douglas]) worn during the collegiate season at Lehigh University. Standard MRI using a routine clinical 0.7 T high field open MRI scanner (GE Signa System, Milwaukee, WI) was employed for the evaluation using standard clinical parameters (sagittal T1, fast spin echo [FSE] T2, STIR, and axial FSE T2 series). A single board-certified, fellowship-trained neuroradiologist reviewed all series. Studies were evaluated for image clarity and diagnostic capability in this clinical setting.', 'All standard MRI series were of extremely limited quality, even using sequences and slice selection designed to minimize artifact associated with metals (FSE T2-weighted series). When all MRI series were reviewed as a whole, sufficient evidence was not available to allow clinical decision making.'] Is mRI nondiagnostic in cervical spine imaging of the helmeted football player with shoulder pads?