Bears

Leather Helmets

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

Helmet colors

If one looks closely at the Bears helmets, early helmets were a darker navy than more modern helmets. The change appears to have occurred in the 70’s and 80’s. This was likely not an intentional branding decision but due to changes in pigments at the Riddell factory.

1950-61

In the 1950’s the Bears mostly wore a dark navy helmet. Before 1953, the helmets had a leather facemask. In 1954, the facemask was the clear lucite. Between 1955 and 1961, was at various times white, navy, and gray.

The Bears wore a navy helmet with a blue facemask in 1994. In 2010 and 2012-18, a navy helmet with a grey facemask was worn as a throwback.

1962-1973

In 1962, Chicago added a white wishbone “C.” I’ve seen pictures of this helmet with a white and a grey facemask.

By 1970, the grey facemask took over as the primary facemask. Factory helmets are in the Throwback Series 1, Throwback NFC 1969 2-bar, and Throwback 2-bar sets.

1974-82

In 1974, the Bears switched to an orange wishbone “C.” The facemask remained grey. This style helmet can only be found in the Throwback Series 2 set.

1983-present

In 1982, the Bears facemask was changed to Navy. In 2004, the Bears wore a throwback on Thanksgiving Day. The throwback was the helmet with the white wishbone “C.” However, the throwback helmet the Bears wore had a navy blue facemask. To my knowledge, the Bears never wore a navy facemask with the helmet with the white C.

Modern alternates

2019 Alternate throwback; mostly like a throwback to the 1933-34 leather helmet

The 2019 alternate throwback is most likely a throwback to the 1933-34 leather helmet. The orange alternate debuted in 2022 and was last worn in 2024. Both were released as part of the 2024 limited edition series.

2022-25 Alternate throwback: Orange

This 2022 orange alternate was worn for three seasons.

Bears 4-piece Team Set

Super Bowl Helmets

Checklist

Last update: 12/14/25

Years	Color	Facemask	Stripe	Logo	Pocket helmet
1950-61 2010, 2012-18 throwback	Dark navy	Leather (50-53) Lucite (54) Grey, White, Navy (55-61)	None	None	None
1994 throwback	Navy	Navy	None	None	None
2010, 2012-18 throwback	Navy	Grey	None	None	None
1962-69	Dark navy	White	None	White wishbone “C”	None
1970-73 2019 throwback	Navy	Grey	None	White wishbone “C”	Throwback Series 1 Throwback NFC 1969 2-bar Throwback 2-bar NFC East 1999 set throwback
1974-82	Navy	Grey	None	Orange wishbone “C”	Throwback Series 2
1983-present	Navy	Navy blue	None	Orange wishbone “C”	Traditional Revolution Speed Chrome
2019-present throwback (1936-37 leather)	Navy	Navy blue	Three orange	None	Speed – limited edition series
2022 – 24 alternate	Orange	Navy blue	None	Navy “C” with white outline	Speed – limited edition series

Super Bowl & other:

• Bears Super Bowl 20 (1983-present style)
• Bears Super Bowl 20 Chrome (1983-present style)
• Bears Monsters of Midway (2-bar; from Super Bowl 4-piece team set)

Chicago Bears Leather Helmets
These pocket helmets were not officially made by Riddell. They only exist as custom helmets.

• 1919-30: Brown leather 6-strap
• 1931-33: Black leather streamline wings, orange wings & stripes
• 1933: Orange leather streamline wings
• 1933-34, 36: Black leather streamline wings
• 1934: White leather streamline wings
• 1934: Orange leather streamline wings, blue stripes
• 1935: Black leather 6-strap
• 1936-37, 2019-present alternate throwback: Navy leather streamline crown, orange stripes
• 1938-40: Black leather fibre crown
• 1938: Orange leather plain crown
• 1937-38: Plain orange leather helmet
• 1941-46: : Black leather fibre crown, white stiching lines
• 1947-49: Navy leather fibre crown

References

• Gridiron Uniform Database, Chicago Bears
• Helmet History.com, Chicago Bears