I appreciate feedback on my site and checklists. On a recent Buccaneers post, fellow collector Steve noted discrepancies in the modern Revolution pocket helmet flag size.
The two helmets on the left are from the same era and are representative of that style. In 2014, the Bucs changed the helmet color, logo and facemask. This is the middle revolution style helmet in the photo below. The next helmet on the right – the speed helmet – continued that style. The final helmet on the right is the helmet the Bucs currently wear today.
One may notice an anomoly with the middle revolution helmet. Although the flag is the same as the modern helmet, it’s noticably smaller. The actual flag was larger, as shown in the flags on the right. I suspect Riddell figured it couldn’t fit the sword hilt by the ear hole and reduced the size. Regardless, the actual helmet flag was similar in size to the flags on the speed helmet.
I also discovered the Bucs darkened in the pewter color in 2014. That color remains to this day.
So, this is a helmet error. Thanks to Steve for pointing this out! I updated the Bucs, revolution and teams websites to reflect this change.

1. 1997-2013 traditional (light pewter, 1997-13 logo, black facemask)
2. 1997-2013 revolution (light pewter, 1997-13 logo, black facemask)
3. 2014-19 revolution (dark pewter, 2014-19 logo, silver facemask)
4. 2014-19 speed (dark pewter, 2014-19 logo, silver facemask)
5. 2020-present speed (dark pewter, 2020-present logo, black facemask)
Someday, I am going to research the 1976-96 creamsickle helmet facemask colors. Riddell has manufactured three helmets from this era: a two-bar, traditional, and speed as part of the 2024 limited edition series. They all have different colors. The two-bar is noticeably red. The traditional is orange. The speed is more of a bay orange color. And Riddell apparently manufactured a two-bar helmet with a grey facemask!
See the NFL hex colors website for more information on where I got “bay orange” from!

That Bucs Pewter Revolution helmet always bothered me because of the small flag. I ended getting a customized one that looked comparable to what the Speed version that come out later.
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Good point! I may do the same thing.
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I have all five of the Pewter ones you have pictured. Come to think of it, the flag on the Traditional set looks a little too small as well – the Revolution helmet probably portrays the original 1997 flag logo most accurately.
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