Cardinals

The Arizona/Chicago/St. Louis cardinals helmets may look the same over the years, but there are are subtle differences. The 1961-87 helmet Cardinal has no outline. In 2005, the Carindal was updated with a more modern look that included an outline around the helmet.

1918-51: Leather Helmets

See the checklist below for a listing of Cardinal leather helmets.

1952-60: Pre Cardinal Logo

  • 1952-53: Plain white helmet, leather facemask
    • No factory pocket helmet
  • 1952-53: Plain cardinal red helmet, leather facemask
    • No factory pocket helmet
  • 1954: Plain white helmet, lucite facemask
    • No factory pocket helmet
  • 1954: Plain cardinal red helmet, lucite facemask
    • No factory pocket helmet
  • 1955-60, 1994 throwback: Plain white helmet, grey facemask
    • No factory pocket helmet

Some of the first helmet facemasks were made of clear lucite. According to the Gridiron Uniform Database, the Cardinals wore the facemask in 1954. These facemasks were used for a few years in the early to mid 1950s.

1961-04: First Cardinal Logo

This helmet is in the Throwback Series 1, Series 2, NFC 1969 2-bar, and Throwback 2-bar sets. Note how the cardinal has no line around it.

The 1969 2-bar throwback helmet has the Riddell logo in all caps (RIDDELL). The regular Throwback 2-bar helmet has some cursive font (RIDDell). See the Throwback NFC 1969 site for more information. Some Throwback Series 2 helmets do not have an “R” next to the earhole.

The helmets pictured below are from the traditional and chrome sets and have a thin black border around the cardinal. I could not find any evidence that this particular Cardinals logo actually had a black line around it.

The Gridiron Uniform Database is pretty much the definitive source. None of the helmets with this cardinal depict a line. So I think this probably an error on Riddell’s part.

2005-present: Second Cardinals Logo

In 2005, the Cardinals updated the cardinal for a more modern look. The 2005-present style helmet was included in the speed and revolution sets. The cardinal changed and a black borderline was added.

In 2016, the Cardinals wore a color rush helmet with a darker red shade for the cardinal logo.

In 2019, the Cardinals wore a decal on the back of their helmet to honor former owner Bill Bidwell.

Custom Cardinals Helmets

Pocket Helmet Checklist

Last update: 12/16/2021

  • 1952-53: Plain white helmet, leather facemask
    • No factory pocket helmet
  • 1952-53: Plain cardinal red helmet, leather facemask
    • No factory pocket helmet
  • 1954: Plain white helmet, lucite facemask
    • No factory pocket helmet
  • 1954: Plain cardinal red helmet, lucite facemask
    • No factory pocket helmet
  • 1955-60, 1994 throwback: Plain white helmet, grey facemask
    • No factory pocket helmet
  • 1955-57: Plain cardinal red helmet, grey facemask
    • No factory pocket helmet
  • 1960-04: Plain white helmet, traditional cardinal logo with no black outline, grey facemask.
  • 2005-present: Plain white helmet, modern cardinal logo, grey facemask
  • 2016: Plain white helmet, modern color rush cardinal logo, grey facemask
    • No factory pocket helmet
  • Prototype: Plain white helmet, traditional cardinal logo with black outline, grey facemask.
    • Traditional
    • Chrome
    • The traditional and chrome helmets display a line around the cardinal head. I don’t think this was the case and is likely an error.

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

  • 1920, 1925: Coffee color, 6-strap
  • 1921-24: Bronze, 6-strap
  • 1927-28: Light tawny, 6-strap
  • 1927: Carmine red bottom, white top, 6-strap
  • 1929-32: Carmine red, 6-strap
  • 1932: Berry red, 6-strap
  • 1932-33: Sangria red, 6-strap
  • 1935-36: Crimson red, white striped, 6-strap
  • 1937-51: Plain white, 6-strap
  • 1940: Cardinal red, brown wings, white top, front shield
  • 1949-50: Cardinal red leather helmet, 6 strap

References

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