A Maumelle High School football player was practicing in Arkansas in August 2026 when he felt something moving inside his helmet. When coaches checked the equipment, they found a cottonmouth snake hiding beneath the padding, according to local news reports.
The player had apparently worn the helmet during practice for about an hour before noticing the unusual sensation, according to local news outlet KARK. The snake measured about 2 feet long and had taken shelter inside the helmet.
