Last update: 6/10/24
Row 1: 1960-61 (brown), 1962 (brown bronco), 1965 (orange-red, white bronco), 1962-64 (orange, white bronco)
Row 3: 1968-70,* 1971-73,* 1993-96
Row 4: 1997-2023
Row 5: 2024-present, 1993-96 throwback**
The Broncos X feed claims this is a throwback to 1977, but the logo on the helmet is from 1993-96. The color is also more aligned with the 1993-96 helmet.
*Helmet incorrectly displays logo from 1992-96
Brown Helmet: 1960-61
This helmet is only available in the Throwback AFL 50th Anniversary set. The Broncos also wore this brown helmet in the pre-season. It was the same, but with no player number.
Orange Helmet: 1962-66
| Year | Color | Facemask | Logo | Stripes |
| 1962 | Orange | Grey | Blue bronco Pocket helmet displays a brown bronco | White |
| 1962-64 | Orange | Grey | White bronco | White |
| 1965 | Orange-red | Grey | White bronco | White |
| 1965 | Orange-red | Grey | White bronco | Blue-white-blue |
| 1966 | Orange-red | Grey | Drunk bronco | White |
1962-64
In 1962, Denver created a new helmet with a blue bucking Bronco. The only problem is that it looked terrible. Some said the bronco looked like an ink blot. The Broncos website states the blue logo blended into the orange on black-and-white TV broadcasts. So mid-season in 1962, Denver switched to a white bronco to make the logo stand out.
The 1962 factory pocket pro, however, is an error. The factory helmet displays a brown bronco. Further research has revealed the bronco on the helmet was actually blue. Conventional wisdom at the time was the bronco was brown, so one can’t really blame Riddell. Only recently has research revealed this as a blue bronco (see sources at the end of this page). The 1962 pocket pro helmet with the brown bronco is included in the Throwback Series 1 and Throwback 2-bar sets.
In 1965, the Broncos retained the same helmet, but added some red to the orange. This helmet is in the 2-bar Throwback set. It is the middle helmet in the photo below. For one game this year (week 1), this helmet had thin blue lines around the white stripe. I bought a factory helmet and added the blue stripes.
The following picture is a close up showing the different shades of orange, with the 1962-64 Throwback Series 1 (traditional style) helmet on the left and 1965 2-bar helmet on the right.
1966
Denver Broncos revised the Bronco helmet for 1966. The helmet retained the reddish-orange color, but the bronco now had a dark blue outline. Riddell did not manufacture a pocket pro for this helmet. I’ll likely make a custom of my own when I have time.
Blue Helmet: 1967
The Denver Broncos own website claims the 1967 helmet “went from orange to blue with a single white stripe.” They even have a black-and-white photo showing this helmet. I believe this is an error (and from the team’s own website!) Every reputable research website clearly shows the helmet had a orange-white-orange striping pattern. Even the black and white photo shows what appears to be an outline around the white stripe. The Broncos wore an academy blue color during this period. It’s a moderate blue.
Bottom from Gridiron Uniform Database, © 2011 – 2020 Tim Brulia, Bill Schaefer and/or Rob Holecko
Blue helmet: 1968-96
Before diving into the helmet history, I’ll go over the 1) logo and 2) helmet color.
Broncos Logo
In the blue helmet era, there were two different logos, two different facemasks, and various shades of blue. The way to tell the difference between the 1968-92 and 1993-96 logos is to look at the air coming out of the Bronco’s nose. Between 1968-92, the air had lines. Between 1993-96, there were no lines. The Bronco also looks slightly more abstract.
The 1993-96 Bronco appears on all of the factory Riddell pocket pros. To get a pocket helmet with the 1968-92 logo, you’ll have to buy a custom or make your own. Read more about this below.
Helmet Colors
I looked at three different sources for helmet colors: the Gridiron Uniform Database, Bill’s Sports Maps, and actual photos from Getty Sports Images.
The following helmet images are from the Gridiron Uniform Database. I looked at all of the helmets for this era and it appears to me the Broncos wore several different shades of blue. Some shades from different eras may look the same. But when I move the images next to each other, there are differences.
My other souces are:
- Bill’s Sports Maps
- Getty Images (end of page)
- A 2018 article by John Thurely from the Pro Football Journal.
These sources are explained in more detail in the appendix of this page. There will probably never be a final word, but I think the Broncos colors and helmet designs are as follows:
| Year | Color | Facemask | Logo | Stripes |
| 1967 | Academy blue | Grey | None | Orange-white-orange |
| 1968-70 | Dark blue | Grey | 1968 logo | Orange-white-orange |
| 1971-73 | Medium blue | Grey | 1968 logo | Orange-white-orange |
| 1973-75 | Medium blue | White | 1968 logo | Orange-white-orange |
| 1976-78 | Dark blue | White | 1968 logo | Orange-white-orange |
| 1979-92 | Medium blue | White | 1968 logo | Orange-white-orange |
| 1993-96 | Royal blue | White | 1993 logo | Orange-white-orange |
The factory pocket pros from this era are photographed below. They include the 1976-78, 1971-75, and 1993-96 helmets (although the first two are errors; they display the 93-96 logo). Notice the different shades of blue: dark, medium, and royal.
Midnight Blue: 1997-2023
The Broncos wore four helmet styles between 1997 and 2023. First, a midnight blue helmet with the modern bronco logo, tapered orange stripes, and midnight blue facemask. This helmet is in the traditional (97, 99, 03), revolution, and speed sets.
Second, a midnight blue helmet with the 1993-96 logo, midnight blue facemask and white-orange-white stripes. This was known as their ‘color rush’ helmet. The 2020 helmet logo is unique in that it has a white background to the lower left corner on the inside of the “D.” The photos below denote the differences. I purchased the custom helmet below on eBay from travistomark, who does really nice work.
Third, a white alternate in 2023 only. This helmet replaced the previous color rush helmet. There is no factory version of this helmet. Fourth, in 2001 the Broncos wore 1993-96 helmet as a throwback. If you have the traditional factory pocket helmet from this era, then you have the 2001 throwback.
2024-present
The Broncos three helmets in 2024:
- 1993-96 throwback: The Broncos twitter feed suggests this is a throwback to 1977. This is incorrect. Actually, this is a throwback to the 1993-96 era. The logo helmet color is from 1993-96. Besides a different logo, the Broncos helmet color in 1977 was a darker blue.
- 2024-present primary: Midnight blue helmet, modern bronco logo, dotted orange arrow stripes, midnight blue facemask
- 2024-present alternate: White helmet, modern bronco logo, dotted midnight blue arrow stripes, white facemask (photo from picksixpreviews)
Broncos Super Bowl Pocket Pro Helmets
Broncos Pocket Helmet Checklist
Last update: 12/14/25
| Years | Color | Facemask | Logo | Stripe | Pocket helmet |
| 1960-61 2009 Throwback | Brown | Grey | Player # | White | Throwback AFL 50th Anniversary |
| 1962 | Orange | Grey | Blue bronco The factory Riddell pocket helmet displays a brown bronco. The bronco was actually blue. | White | Throwback Series 1 4-piece Throwback Team set Throwback 2-bar |
| 1962-64 | Orange | Grey | White bronco | White | Throwback Series 1 4-piece Throwback Team set |
| 1965 1994 Throwback | Orange-red | Grey | White bronco | White | Throwback 2-bar |
| 1965 | Orange-red | Grey | White bronco | Blue-white-blue | None |
| 1966 | Orange-red | Grey | White bronco with blue outline | White-blue-white | None |
| 1967 | Academy blue | Grey | None | Orange-white-orange | None |
| 1968-70 | Dark blue | Grey | 1968-92 “D” logo The pocket helmet displays the 1993-96 “D” logo | Orange-white-orange | Throwback AFC 1969 2-bar |
| 1971-73 | Medium blue | Grey | 1968-92 “D” logo The pocket helmet displays the 1993-96 “D” logo | White-orange-white | Throwback Series 2 |
| 1974-75 | Medium blue | White | 1968-92 “D” logo | White-orange-white | None |
| 1976-78 | Dark blue | White | 1968-92 “D” logo | White-orange-white | None |
| 1979-92 | Medium blue | White | 1968-92 “D” logo | White-orange-white | None |
| 1993-96 2001, 2024 Throwback | Royal blue | White | 1993-96 “D” logo The Broncos X feed claims this is a throwback to 1977, but the logo on the helmet is from 1993-96. | White-orange-white | 4-piece Throwback Team set – Traditional Speed – limited edition series |
| 1997-23 | Midnight blue | Midnight blue | Modern bronco | Tapered orange | Traditional Chrome Revolution Speed |
| 2016-22 color rush | Midnight blue | Midnight blue | 1993-96 “D” logo The 2020 background on the “D” logo is slightly different logo | White-orange-white | None |
| 2023 alternate | White | White | 1993-96 “D” logo | Dark blue-orange-dark blue | None |
| 2024-present | Midnight blue matte | Midnight blue | Modern bronco | Dotted orange arrows | Speed |
| 2024-present alternate | White | White | Modern bronco | Dotted midnight blue arrows | Speed – limited edition series |
Super Bowl Helmets
- Broncos Super Bowl 32
- Broncos Super Bowl 33
- Broncos 32 Super Bowl chrome
- Broncos 33 Super Bowl chrome
References
- Bronco Country Message Board. (2005, August). COMPLETE Denver Broncos Helmet History.
- Denver Broncos 1968 – Gridiron Uniform Database. (2011, June 25). Broncos “D” Logo Variance AND 1967 & 1968 Denver Broncos.
- Denver Broncos. (2016, April 22). Uncovering the rare 1962 Broncos’ blue-logo helmets.
- Denver Broncos. Helmet history in photos.
- ESC’s Denver Broncos Uniform History.
- Gridiron Uniform Database. (2011, June 15). Broncos “D” Logo Variance AND 1967 & 1968 Denver Broncos.
- Gridiron Uniform Database, Denver Broncos
- Gridiron Uniform Database. (2011, August). 1962 Broncos Helmet Resolved (Probably).
- Hecken, Phil. (2014, February 2). Broncos Uniform History.
- Helmet History, Denver Broncos
- Saccomano, J. (2015, Feb. 20). Legenda and legacy: Orange’s origin. Denver Broncos.
- Saccomano, J. (2022, Aug. 7). Sacco Sez: How the orange and blue began. Denver Broncos.
- Turley, John. (2018, June 30). Denver Broncos Helmet Oddity in 1976 and 1977—Two Shades of Blue. Pro Football Journal.
Appendix
Getty Images
- Denver 1969 – Denver Broncos v Cincinnati Bengals 10/16/1969 – Getty Images/Focus on Sports
- Denver 1971 – Denver Broncos v Detroit Lions – Photo fr. eBay Dr. Tjeeee
- Denver 1973 – Denver Broncos v Pittsburgh Steelers 11/18/1973 – Getty Images/Focus on Sports
- Denver 1978 – Denver Broncos v Kansas City Chiefs 12/10/1978 – Getty Images/Focus on Sports
- Denver 1979 – Denver Broncos v San Francisco 49ers 11/18/1979 – Getty Images/Focus on Sports
- Denver 1980 (1) – Denver Broncos v NY Giants 10/26/1980 – Getty Images/Focus on Sports
- Denver 1980 (2) – Denver Broncos v Dallas Cowboys 9/14/1980 – Getty Images/Focus on Sports
- Denver 1982 – Denver Broncos v L.A. Raiders 12/26/1982 – Getty Images/Focus on Sports
- Denver 1986 – Denver Broncos v Cleveland Browns 1/11/1987 – Getty Images/Focus on Sports
- Denver 1991 – Denver Broncos v Kansas City Chiefs 10/21/91 – Getty Images/Focus on Sports
- Denver 1992 – Denver Broncos v Philadelphia Eagles 9/20/1992 – Getty Images/Focus on Sports
- Denver 1993 – Denver Broncos v Indianapolis Colts 10/3/1993 – Getty Images/Focus on Sports
- Denver 1987 – Denver Broncos v Houston Oilers 1/10/1988 – Getty Images/Focus on Sports
- Denver 1996 – Denver Broncos v Seattle Seahawks 12/1/1996 – Getty Images/Focus on Sports
Bill’s Sports Maps
The next image (below) is from Bill’s Sports Maps. Comparing this to the Gridiron Uniform Database image (above), there are some discrepancies based on the years. But chronologically at least, the helmets appear similar in terms of shading. The only outlier is the 1976-78 Gridiron Uniform Database helmet. In in these years, the Broncos wore several shades of blue.
Riddell NFL Pocket Pro Helmets 
