Bills

1960-73

The first Bills helmet was a plain silver helmet with player numbers. No official pocket pro was manufactured by Riddell (the photo below is a custom).

• 1960-61: silver helmet with player # – custom only
• 1962-64: white helmet with red bill and red stripe – Throwback Series 1 and Throwback 2-bar sets.
• 1965-73: white helmet with red bill and red/blue stripe – Throwback AFC 1969 2-bar and Throwback AFL 50th Anniversary sets. The 2-bar AFC 1969 pocket pro is not pictured.

1974-83

The 1974 Bills helmet introduced the blue charging bison with the red stripe. The Bills wore three versions of this helmet during this era. This helmet has been worn at various times in later years as a throwback. The changes to the 1982 helmet were so minor, I tend to consider it a continuation of the 1976-81 helmet.

1984-2001

• 1984-86: Red helmet, white/red/blue/red/white stripes, blue facemask – Throwback Series 2
• 1987-2001: Red helmet, white/red/blue/red/white stripes, white facemask – Traditional sets, Chrome
• 1994 alternate: Red helmet, plain white bison, white/red/blue/red/white stripes, white facemask – custom only

2002-10

In 2002, Buffalo added grey stripes to the helmet, the only update. This helmet is available in the Traditional and Revolution sets.

2011-2020 and 2021

In 2011, the Bills returned to the white helmet. This helmet is very similar to the 70’s helmet. The main difference is the striping pattern. This helmet style is in the Speed and Revolution sets.

In week 13 of the 2019 season, the Bills wore an alternate version of the helmet with a white facemask. In 2021, the Bills announced they would permanently switch to the helmet with the white facemask. Otherwise, the helmet stays the same. Riddell did manufacture a helmet in this style starting in summer 2021.

Custom Bills Pocket Pro Helmets

Checklist

Last update: 12/16/2021

Years	Color	Facemask	Logo	Stripe	Pocket helmet
1960-61	Silver	Grey	Player #	None	None
1962-65 (pre-season)	White	Grey	None	None	None
1962 (pre-season)	White	Grey	None	Blue	None
1962-64	White	Grey	Plain scarlet red bison	Scarlet red	Throwback Series 1 Throwback 2-bar
1965-73 2005-10, 12-21, 2025- throwbacks	White	Grey	Plain scarlet red bison	Scarlet red-royal blue-scarlet red	Throwback AFL 50th Anniversary Throwback AFC 1969 2-bar
1974-76:	White	Grey	Royal blue bill with scarlet red stripe	Scarlet red-royal blue-scarlet red	None
1977-83	White	Royal blue	Royal blue bill with scarlet red stripe	Scarlet red-royal blue-scarlet red	None
1984-86	Scarlet red	Royal blue	Royal blue bill with scarlet red stripe	White-scarlet red-royal blue-scarlet red-white	Throwback Series 2
1987-2001 2025 throwback	Scarlet red	White	Royal blue bill with scarlet red stripe	White-scarlet red-royal blue-scarlet red-white	Traditional Chrome
1994 alternate	Scarlet red	White	Plain white bill	White-scarlet red-royal blue-scarlet red-white	None
2002-10	Scarlet red	White	Royal blue bill with scarlet red stripe	White-royal blue-silver-black-silver-royal blue-white	Traditional Revolution Chrome
2011-2020	White	Grey	BRoyal blue bill with scarlet red stripe	Royal blue-scarlet red-tapered	Revolution Speed
2020-present	White	White	Royal blue bill with scarlet red stripe	Royal blue-scarlet red-tapered	Speed
2025-present alterate rivalries	White	Light grey	Silver with silver stripe	Sliver tapered	None

References

• Gridiron Uniform Database, Buffalo Bills
• Helmet History.com, Buffalo Bills
• Warren, Matt. (2021, April 2). Bills Announce Permanent Change to White Facemask. SB Nation.