49ers

49ers Logos

1962-88
1989-95
1996-present

Pre-1959 helmets

See checklist at the end of the page for a list of helmets before 1959.

1960-63 – Silver Helmets

  • 1960-61: Plain silver, no logo, red stripes. Available as a custom only.
  • 1962-63: Silver helmet, scarlet red-white-scarlet red stripes, 1962-88 logo. In the Throwback 2-bar and Throwback Series 1 sets.

1964-88

This helmet style appeared in the Throwback Series 2 and Throwback NFL 1969 2-bar sets. This style is different from later styles in that the “SF” has no black outline and the interior circle is full red.

1989-95

This style was made available as an extra with the 1999 Traditional Pocket Pro NFC West division set. The only difference between this helmet and the previous one (1964-88) is that the “SF” is now outlined in black. This helmet was made by Riddell as part of the 2025 limited edition series.

Prototype

The 49ers proposed a logo change in 1991, but it didn’t work out.

1996-2008

The 1996-2008 helmet was available in traditional, chrome and revolution formats. Three changes were made to the 1996-2008 helmet:

  1. Change of red from Scarlet to Cardinal Red
  2. New stripes
  3. New facemask: from grey to red.
  4. SF logo ciricle now partly red, as opposed to filled in.

2009-present

In 2009, the 49ers changed their signature read from cardinal red to 49ers read, a slightly brighter shade. The middle stripe was changed to white. This helmet is available in the revolution and speed sets.

In 2025, the 49ers renamed 49ers red after the State of Montana and Joe Montana. Only the name changed though. The actual shade of red did not change.

Super Bowl Helmets

Interestingly, all the super bowl helmets display the 1989-95 logo. So, some of the super bowl helmets are errors:

  • Super bowls 16, 19, & 23 should display the 1964-88 logo
  • Super bowls 24 & 25 correctly display the 1989-95 logo

Checklist: 1951-present

YearsColorFacemaskLogoStripePocket helmet
1951-52SilverLeatherNoneNoneNone
1951RedLeatherNoneNoneNone
1953RedLeatherNoneSilverNone
1954–55RedLucite (54), Grey (55)NoneSilverNone
1956WhiteGreyNoneNoneNone
1957-58GoldGreyNoneNoneNone
1959SilverGreyNoneNoneNone
1960-61SilverGreyNoneScarlet-silver-scarlet-silver-scarletNone
1962-63SilverGrey1962-88 logoScarlet-white-scarletThrowback Series 1

Throwback 2-bar
1964-88GoldGrey1962-88 logoScarlet-white-scarletThrowback Series 2

Throwback NFC 1969 2-bar
1989-95

2005-08, 2018-present throwback		GoldGrey1989-95 logoScarlet-white-scarletTraditional 99 Throwback

Speed – 2025 limited edition series
1996-2008GoldRed1996-present logoBlack-cardinal-blackTraditional

Revolution

Chrome
2009-presentGoldGrey1996-present logo49ers red-white-49ers redRevolution

Speed

Super Bowl helmets

Leather San Francisco Helmets
These helmets were not officially made by Riddell. They only exist as custom helmets.

References