Classic Helmet Designs for Each NFL Team
It's only a few days until pitchers and catchers report to spring training, but almost five months until NFL training camp.
While waiting for football to return, here's a look at a traditional or throwback helmet for each current NFL franchise, some of which haven't changed very much since teams started placing decals on plastic shells (or painting leather lids).
A number of designs remain in use, with minor changes. Many no longer grace NFL sidelines, particularly since the league has now limited players to wearing only one helmet per season rather than multiple models, as was demonstrated in recent campaigns. (Not included in this slideshow were helmets without any logos.)
Chronological data from The Helmet Project.
Arizona/Phoenix/St. Louis Cardinals
1 of 32
One of the longest-running helmet schemes in modern NFL history, the original Cardinal logo survived the move from Missouri to Arizona in 1987, and lasted from 1960 until 2005.
Atlanta Falcons
2 of 32
One of Atlanta's former designs in a league now almost devoid of red shells. This one flew with the Falcons from 1984 to 1989, and featured black facemasks.
Buffalo Bills
3 of 32
The Bills switched to red shells in 1984 and had blue facemasks until 1986, prior to their run of four Super Bowls in four years.
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Baltimore Ravens
4 of 32
The original Baltimore logo graced the Ravens helmets from 1996 to 1998. It was later replaced because of a lawsuit.
Carolina Panthers
5 of 32
The Panthers' original logo lasted from the team's inception in 1995 until it was slightly upgraded in 2012.
Chicago Bears
6 of 32
The Bears' wishbone "C" helmet design hasn't really been altered much over the years, changing from white to orange in 1973. Navy facemasks were added in 1982, and the white logo also made a reappearance in 2004.
Cincinnati Bengals
7 of 32
The Bengals wordmark logo lasted from 1968 to 1980. Black facemasks were added that last year, before Cincinnati switched to its now-familiar stripes in 1981. The original helmet design came back briefly in 1994, as part of the NFL's 75th anniversary celebration.
Cleveland Browns
8 of 32
The plain orange shells have always looked right in Cleveland. The white facemasks, worn from 1975-1995 and from 1999-2005, complemented them perfectly.
Dallas Cowboys
9 of 32
The Cowboys have brought these shells back several times over the years, including on Thanksgiving. An homage to the team's original 1960-63 helmet, it made its last appearance to date in 2010.
Denver Broncos
10 of 32
This design lasted from 1968 to 1996, or a good part of the John Elway era, and appeared in four Super Bowls. It reappeared briefly in 2001.
Detroit Lions
11 of 32
Detroit wore the blue "Bubbles" lion logo with blue facemasks from 1983 to 2002. Black was added the following year and has remained to date.
Green Bay Packers
12 of 32
The Packers' classic logo has persisted since 1961. Green facemasks were added in 1980, although gray faceguards made an encore on Thanksgiving of 2003.
Houston Texans
13 of 32
The Texans haven't changed their lids since entering the league in 2002.
Jacksonville Jaguars
14 of 32
This design, which ran from 1995 to 2012, was the first one the Jags ever sported on the field.
Indianapolis Colts
15 of 32
A reverse-color version of a design worn by the Colts in the 1950s, this one appeared in 2010.
Kansas City Chiefs
16 of 32
Since changing from the Dallas Texans in 1963, the Chiefs and their helmets have remained virtually unchanged, with perhaps the arrowhead logo varying slightly in size and shape. White facemasks were introduced in 1974.
Miami Dolphins
17 of 32
The old Dolphins lids with the aqua facemasks had more color and character than the current version and also saw a couple of Super Bowl appearances. They lasted, with minor variations, from 1980 to 2012.
Minnesota Vikings
18 of 32
The Vikings have kept the same general helmet design since their inception in 1960, with some changes made to the horns and shell color over the years. Purple facemasks were in vogue from 1985 to 2012.
New England Patriots
19 of 32
The Patriots made some alterations in striping and facemask colors over the years, but the classic Pat Patriot logo endured for over three decades. The white helmet has made several return appearances, including in 2002 and 2009.
New Orleans Saints
20 of 32
Black facemasks came to New Orleans in 1976. The fleur-de-lis logo has undergone some modification over the years but has been in place since the Saints started play in 1967.
New York Giants
21 of 32
The Giants wore this version from 1980 to 1999, and won two Super Bowls while wearing it.
New York Jets
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The Jets switched to green helmets in 1978 and added black trim and facemasks from 1990 to 1997 before transitioning back to white shells.
Oakland/Los Angeles Raiders
23 of 32
Except for some subtle logo variations, the Raiders' classic lid hasn't changed all that much since 1964. A "whitened" logo, as shown above, was used in 1994 and 2009.
Philadelphia Eagles
24 of 32
The Eagles have sported green helmets for most of their modern history and played in Super Bowl XV with these kelly green models. This design lasted from 1974 to 1995, with minor changes.
Pittsburgh Steelers
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The Steelers wore yellow helmets in 1962 and have brought the design back several times since 2007.
St. Louis/Los Angeles Rams
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The one that started the helmet craze. The yellow horns were worn from 1950 to 1963, and from 1973 to 1980, before blue facemasks were added in 1981. The look has been brought back several times by the Rams, the last in 2014.
San Diego Chargers
27 of 32
Dan Fouts and company racked up a ton of yards in this design, which lasted from 1984 to 1987. It also marked the first time in franchise history that San Diego wore a blue shell.
San Francisco 49ers
28 of 32
The 49ers won four Super Bowls with this look, which got its start in 1964 and lasted until 1995. It was brought back with a slight variation in 2009.
Seattle Seahawks
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I still think this is the best look the Seahawks have ever had, with blue facemasks highlighting the original silver shell from 1983 to 2001.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
30 of 32
Bucco Bruce is gone but not forgotten, including several heritage appearances in recent years after his original run from 1976 to 1996.
Tennessee Titans/Houston Oilers
31 of 32
The Oilers' original blue helmet scheme, worn from 1960 to 1963, was brought back for several games in 2009.
Washington Redskins
32 of 32
The Redskins brought this look back in 2007, in tribute to the Vince Lombardi design initiated in 1970.
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