Row 1: 1961-67, 1968-70
Row 2: 1983-2002, 2003-08
Row 3: 2009-16 (two on the left), 2017-23 (middle), 2024-presents (two on the right)
Leather Helmets: 1930-48
- 1930 (Portsmouth Spiders): Black/white, square front, six strap
- 1931 (Portsmouth Spiders): Tan, six strap
- 1932-33 (Portsmouth Spiders): Purple, white stripe, six strap
- 1934-46: Silver, wing front
- 1947: Silver, molded rubber standard
- 1948: Red, six strap
- 1948: Black, six strap
1949-60
Between 1949 and 1960, the Lions wore four styles of helmets at various times (not including changes to the facemask). Riddell did not manufacture helmets for these styles, although custom pocket pros do exist. Photos of two custom helmets are below.
- 1949-52: Silver helmet, leather facemask
- No factory pocket helmet
- 1949, 1953: Honolulu blue helmet, leather facemask
- No factory pocket helmet
- 1950-53: Dark blue helmet, leather facemask
- No factory pocket helmet
- 1953: Gold helmet, leather facemask, white stripe
- No factory pocket helmet
- 1954: Gold helmet, lucite facemask, white stripe
- No factory pocket helmet
- 1954: Dark blue helmet, lucite facemask
- No factory pocket helmet
- 1954: Silver helmet, lucite facemask
- No factory pocket helmet
- 1955-56, 2017-20 throwback: Silver helmet, grey facemask
- No factory pocket helmet
- 1955-60: Dark blue helmet, grey facemask
- No factory pocket helmet
- 1955-56: Gold helmet, grey facemask, white stripe
- No factory pocket helmet
1961-67
This helmet has a plain blue lion, two blue stripes, and a grey facemask. In the Throwback Series 1 and Throwback 2-bar sets.
The 1968-70 Lions helmet included a white stripe along with the blue ones. That was the only change. This style is in the pocket pro Throwback Series 2 and Throwback NFC 1969 2-bar sets.
1968–70
1971-82 and 1983-2002
The only change made to the 1970-82 Lions helmet was a white border around the lion decal. No pocket pro was manufactured for this style. The helmet in the photo below is a custom.
A blue facemask was added in 1983. Otherwise, the helmet stayed the same. This style is available in the traditional sets.
2003-08
Three changes were made to this helmet: a black facemask, a black outline around the white outline of the plain blue lion, and a thin black outline around the stripes. This helmet is in the revolution and traditional styles.
2009-16
This helmet is the same as the 2003-08 style, with one exception. The lion decal was updated to a more modern look. It’s in the revolution and speed styles.
2017-23
In 2017, the Lions replaced the white-black border around the lion decal with a white-blue border. The facemask color was changed from black to silver. Finally, the stripes were changed from black-blue-white to just blue stripes. This helmet is available in the speed style.
The Lions also wore plain silver helmets at various times since 1994.
2023 Alternate
Fellow collector Michael Dole verified Riddell made a factory helmet of the 2023 Lions. To my knowledge, this is only sold individually. Photos courtesy Michael Dole
2024-present
The new Lions primary lightens the color of the Lion, adds white to the stripes, and changes from a grey to a blue facemask. The alternate on the right was part of the 2024 limited edition series.
Checklist
Last update: 6/10/24
| Years | Color | Facemask | Logo | Stripes | Pocket helmet |
| 1949-56 2017-20, 22-present throwback (grey facemask) | Silver | 1949-53: Leather 1954: Lucite 1955-56: Grey | None | None | None |
| 1949, 1953 | Honolulu blue | Leather | None | None | None |
| 1950-60 | Dark blue | 1950-53: Leather 1954: Lucite 1955-60: Grey | None | None | None |
| 1953-56 | Gold | 1953: Leather 1954: Lucite 1955-56: Grey | None | White | None |
| 1961-67 | Silver | Grey | Plain blue Lion | Blue-silver-blue | Throwback Series 1 Throwback 2-bar |
| 1968-70 | Silver | Grey | Plain blue Lion | Blue-silver-blue | Throwback Series 2 Throwback NFC 1969 2-bar |
| 1971-82 | Silver | Grey | Blue Lion with white outline | Blue-white-blue | None |
| 1983-2002 | Silver | Blue | Blue Lion with white outline | Blue-white-blue | Traditional Chrome |
| 2003-08 | Silver | Black | Blue Lion with white/black outline | Blue-black-white-black-blue | Traditional Chrome Revolution |
| 2009-16 | Silver | Black | Blue modern Lion with white/black outline | Blue-black-white-black-blue | Revolution Speed |
| 2017-23 | Silver | Blue | Blue modern Lion with white/black outline | Blue-silver-blue-silver-blue | Speed |
| 2024-present | Silver | Blue | Light blue modern Lion with white/blue outline | Light blue-white-light blue-white-light blue-white-light blue | Speed |
| 1994, 2001-02 alternate | Silver | Blue | None | None | None |
| 2003-04, 2008, 2010 alternate | Silver | Black | None | None | None |
| 2023 alternate | Honolulu blue | Grey | Mustang logo | None | Speed |
| 2024-present alternate | Honolulu blue | Black | Modern black lion with white/black outline | Black-white-black-white-black-white-black | Speed – limited edition series |
Leather Helmets
These pocket helmets were not officially made by Riddell. They only exist as custom helmets.
- 1930 (Portsmouth Spiders): Black/white, square front, six strap
- 1931 (Portsmouth Spiders): Tan, six strap
- 1932-33 (Portsmouth Spiders): Purple, white stripe, six strap
- 1934-46: Silver, wing front
- 1947: Silver, molded rubber standard
- 1948: Red, six strap
- 1948: Black, six strap
Sources
- Detroit Lions, TBT: Lions Uniforms Through the Years
- Gridiron Uniform Database
- Heritage Sports, Detroit Lions
- Detroit Athletic Club, April 22, 2009, The Evolution of the Detroit Lions’ Uniform
- Helmet History.com, Detroit Lions
- The Helmet Project
- Sports Logo History – Detroit Lions
- Bill’s Sports Map – NFC North
Riddell NFL Pocket Pro Helmets 
