Bengals

1968-80

The 1968-79 Bengals helmet is available in the Throwback Series 1, Throwback AFC 1969 2-bar, and Throwback 2-bar sets. In 1980, the facemask was changed to black. This helmet with the black facemask is only available in the Throwback Series 2 set. The Bengals wore the 1980 helmet with the black facemask as a throwback in 1994.

1981-present

I have seen multiple references to different striping patters of the 1981 to present helmet. According to a 2009 Bengals media guide, the helmet was “unchanged” between 1981 and at least 2009.

The Bengals helmet looks unchanged in the Gridiron Uniform Database between 1981 and 2011, with a change in the striping pattern in 2012. The 2012 change cited by the Gridiron Uniform Database is consistent with the pocket pro striping pattern, which is different in the speed and revolution sets from the traditional style helmets.

Still, the Bengals own uniform history site states the helmet striping pattern has remained unchanged. I speculate the striping pattern was changed to accomodate a new helmet design. That would explain why the pocket helmet’s revolution pattern is only one style, despite being made before 2012.

1981-2011

2012-present

Differences between the 1981-2011 (left) and 2012-present (right) helmets

2022 Alternate

Prototype Helmets

1960s prototypes

The weird throwback pocket helmet

The Bengals did not announce a throwback in 2025, to my knowledge. So the existence of this pocket helmet implies they could soon. Or, maybe Riddell made it in anticipation of a throwback, and the Bengals changed their mind after production. It’s a rare kind of factory helmet, one made for a style that was never worn in actual games.

Checklist

Last update: 12/11/25

Years	Color	Facemask	Logo	Stripe	Pocket helmet
1968-79 Riddell made a speed version of this helmet, even though the Bengals have not worn this style after 1979.	Orange	Grey	BENGALS	None	Throwback Series 1 Throwback AFC 1969 2-bar Throwback 2-bar Speed
1980 1994 Throwback	Orange	Black	BENGALS	None	Throwback Series 2
1981-2011	Orange	Black	1981-11 pattern	None	Traditional Chrome
2012-present	Orange	Black	2012-present pattern	None	Revolution Speed
2022-present alternate	White	Black	2012-present pattern	None	Speed

Sources

• Cincinnati Bengals, Uniforms
• Gridiron Uniform Database, Cincinnati Bengals
• Helmet History.com, Cincinnati Bengals