Category: Limited Edition

Colts + Weird drops

Colts drop

The Colts dropped the black alternate. There are two gaps in the Colts factory helmet history (after 1955):

  1. 1956-57. The Colts wore this as a throwback in 2004 and 2021-23. More about this later.
  2. 1978-94: The helmet with the white facemask. The Colts haven’t worn this since 1994.
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Here are the numbers for the limited edition series totals. Michael Dole has an excellent visual checklist on the Facebook pocket helmet site. It’s a great visual reference.

Throwback / Alternate

  • Total: 27
  • 2024: 15/15
  • 2025: 12/25
  • Throwbacks: 12
  • Alternates: 15

NFC: 17

  • East: 6 – Commanders (1/1), Cowboys (2/3), Eagles (1/1), Giants (2/2)
  • North: 5 – Bears (2/2), Packers (1/2), Lions (1/1), Vikings (1/2)
  • South: 4 – Buccaneers (1/1), Falcons (1/1), Panthers (1/1), Saints (1/2)
  • West: 2 – 49ers (1/1), Cardinals (0/1), Rams (0/0), Seahawks (1/1)

AFC: 10

  • East: 3 – Bills (0/0), Dolphins (1/1), Jets (1/2), Patriots (1/1)
  • North: 2 – Bengals (0/0), Browns (1/1), Ravens (1/1), Steelers (0/1)
  • South: 4 – Colts (1/2), Jaguars (1/2), Texans (1/2), Titans (1/1)
  • West: 1 – Broncos (1/2), Chargers (0/1), Chiefs (0/0), Raiders (0/0)

Weird Drops

A few weeks, factory limited edition helmets began appearing on ebay. None have been officially released. They were for the Cardinals (alternate), Texans (alternate), and Jaguars (throwback). The seller has other limited edition helmets as well. They appear to ship from China. I won’t speculate on the authenticity of the seller or the helmets as others more knowledgeable about this have speculated on the Facebook site.

Let’s assume they’re legitimate and they can be checked off the list. To me, that signals that Riddell is sticking with helmets that were worn in 2024. That would leave room for only two more alternates: the Broncos and the Chargers. That would also leave 6 throwbacks: the Cowboys, Lions, Packers, Colts, Vikings and Jets. If I were a betting man, I would say the Broncos alternate and Cowboys, Vikings, Colts, and Jets get manufactured this year. The Packers and Lions are plain yellow and silver, so likely not. I hope not as they are so easy to customize. Not sure about the Chargers.

The Bengals 1968-79 helmet suddenly appeared. It’s not packaged as a Limited Edition series and I have not confirmed it’s authenticity, although the seller – picksixpreiews – is legitimate.

May be an image of football and text that says 'NFI Rıddell POCKET POCKETSIZE SIZE HELMET NFL BENUALS TEAMS'

The Bengals haven’t announced a throwback in 2025, to my knowledge. So the existence of htis helmet implies they will soon. Opinion altert: I don’t like this helmet. It’s only letters, not a logo. It’s difficult to read from a distance. The Bengals striped helmet is one of my favorites because it’s unique to the team brand and a clean, simple design. Regardless, this helmet has is notalgic. It’s kind of neat to see it in the speed format.

Interestingly, this is not packaged as a limited edition helmet. Riddell did this with the Eagles throwback and Bengals alternate in 2023. I have no idea where sellers got the Eagles and Bengals helmets. I could only find them on ebay. And who knows why this throwback is not part of the limited edition brand. The Eagles and Bengals helmets from 2023 are still for sale on ebay, so I won’t be in a hurry to purchase this Bengals throwback…I’ve spent enough already on this year’s limited editions!

49ers Drop

Riddell is dropping a throwback for the next limited edition series, the 1989-95 throwback.

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The 49ers wore this helmet design for only seven years, the shortest run of their three SF logos, shown below. Interestingly, the only throwback the 49ers have worn is from this era. It was worn in 2005-08 and again in 2018 through the present.

The helmet was originally made available as a “throwback” in the 1999 6-piece NFC west team set. Other limited editions that have factory counterparts from previous production runs include the 1966-69 Falcons, 1993-96 Broncos, 1966 Dolphins, 1983-2011 Seahawks, 1976-96 Buccaneers, 1981-96 Oilers (Titans), and 1981-99 Giants.

This the fourth 2025 limited edition helmet and 19th overall (including 2024). In the limited edition series, there have been 10 throwbacks and 9 alternates. This is only the second speed style helmet Riddell has manufactured for the 49ers. Only the Raiders and Chiefs have one speed style helmet.

Giants Drop and Revised Checklist

Riddell dropped the 1981-99 throwback pocket helmet with the GIANTS logo. The Giants have worn this as a throwback since 2022.

Some of you may be thinking: “Wait, the Giants started wearing this throwback annually in 2016, not 2022!” I’ll explain.

Between 1981 and 1999, the helmet with the GIANTS logo was dark blue. In 2000, the Giants switched to the NY logo and changed the color to a lighter, metallic blue. In 2016, the Giants wanted to wear the 1981-99 throwback for some games.

However, the NFL had a one helmet rule. So, the Giants swapped the NY and GIANTS logos on the same helmets. Thus, the 1981-99 throwback the Giants wore in 2016 was metallic blue, not the dark blue the team actually wore.

In 2022, the NFL dropped the one helmet rule. This meant the Giants could wear the GIANTS logo helmet with the darker shade of blue. So, in 2022, they switched the throwback to a dark blue.

I included an updated checklist below. I also updated the Giants team site and will make further updates with photos when my new helmet arrives. I also updated the speed and teams checklist sites.

Other interesting things:

  • The Giants are the only team to have two limited edition series helmets.
  • The Giants have three speed factory helmets, two of which are alternates.
  • This is the 18th limited edition helmet. 9 have been throwbacks and 9 alternates.

Updated Giants Checklist

Eagles Alternate Pocket Helmet Drop

The latest limited edition drop is the Eagles black alternate. The first year this helmet was worn was in 2022, suggesting Riddell may go back a little history with the alternates.

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Riddell Collectables

For those counting, this is the 16th limited edition helmet. A list of the limited edition – along with all factory speed helmets – is here. Eight of the limited editions have been throwbacks and eight alternates. As Riddell noted earlier, they plan to release 25 in 2025. Get ready to open the pocketbook 🙂

All of the factory Eagle pocket helmets are in the picture below (with the exception of the new drop from today, of course). The Eagle factory helmets are fairly comprehensive, with a few gaps (1969 “alternate” and various iterations of green throughout the 70s). Two alternates were worn in 2007 and 1994. These are custom helmets, not factory.

Riddell has a lot of places to go in terms of alternates in 2025 for its Limited Edition series. By my count, there are 18 recent alternates alone.

  • Browns 2022 white
  • Broncos 2016-23 midnight blue; and 2023 and 2024 whites (3 total)
  • Cardinals 2023 black
  • Chargers alternates (2)
  • Colts 2022 black
  • Commanders 2022 black
  • Jaguars 2024 white
  • Jets 2022-23 black, 2024 black, 2015-18 white
  • Lions 2023 honolulu blue
  • Texans 2022-23 battle red; 2024 battle red and stell blue (3 total)
  • Vikings 2024 white

There could be an opportunity for team sets, like Riddell used to do in the old days. For example, the three Jets alternates could include 2024 throwback. Or the three Broncos alternates with a throwback. It should be a fun year!!

Row 1: 1985-95 (2023-present throwback)
Row 2: 1996-present
Row 3: 1955-68, 1985-95
Row 4: 1949-53, 1955-68
2007 and 1994 throwbacks