Steelers drop, pt. 2

My new Steelers drop arrived today. Riddell really stepped up their game with this one. It’s sharp.

Thanks to Cole Thompson and Steve for clarifying some things about the Steelers drop. Let’s take a look.

It only resembles the Revolution pocket helmet from 15 years ago. (I have two of the Revolution helmets and the date stamps are June 2010 and July 2011).

The 2025 speed helmet has a matte finish and grey facemask. And there is a black circle around the Steelers’ logo.

It is the fourth gold pocket Steelers helmet.

The two helmets are the left and identical styles. They are in the throwback series. The far right is the 2007-11 revolution alternate throwback.

The logos are different on all three of the styles and reflect the different eras.

Oilers Chrome Pocket Helmet?

For years, I saw the photo below floating around the internet. It displays four Oilers helmets. The middle row shows the following:

1981-96 traditional style helmet
1997-98 traditional style helmet (with the small flag under the earhole)

The interesting thing about the picture is the helmets in the front and back. The helmet in the front row takes the small flag logo and moves it to the middle, like a prototyle. I always assumed it was a custom. The helmet in the back shows the 1981-96, but it’s shiny, like a chrome helmet. I didn’t know what to think, and nothing could be verified, so I moved on.

Recently, on the Custom Pocket Pro facebook site, a collector posted a picture and video of what appears to be a chrome helmet.

It’s an awesome helmet. That being said, I am skeptical (nothing against the person who posted the picture!) I’m a professional researcher. I can’t help it. Here’s the reasons for my skepticism:

The Oilers wore this style helmet through the 1996 season. In 1997, they added the Tennesse flag logo under the earhole. As far as I can tell, Riddell started manufacturing chrome helmets in 2000, two years after this helmet expired. The Giants, Saints, and Rams redesigned their helmets in 2000. The Ravens did in 1999. None of them have chrome helmets for earlier years. For instance, there is no chrome helmet for the 98-98 Ravens. Or for the Giants helmet with the GIANTS logo.
In the early days (and maybe still today), it was not uncommon for collectors to gloss-coat helmets. These helmets can look a lot like chrome helmets. For instance, I found the Oilers helmet below on worthpoint (an archive of past ebay items). The seller states: “Up For Bid is a Custom 1970-71 Houston Oilers Alternate 2 Bar Pocket Pro Helmet. Helmet is Sanded, Painted, and Gloss Coated. Will combine Shipping For Multiple Items. Thank you.” A popular seller on eBay (stormyday) used to gloss coat a lot of helmets.
The facemask on the 1981-96 helmet appears to be chrome as well. My chrome helmets (and I have a lot!) have the regular, non-glossy facemasks. In fact, the Oilers facemask almost looks gloss coated as well, as if the whole thing was coated. That’s a total guess on my part. I could be wrong.
I have never seen this or the other helmets in their original packaging. They were allegedly sold or given away as a four-team set, but I haven’t seen convincing evidence. Maybe it’s true? Maybe it’s a rumor?

Why I am also not skeptical:

I can’t tell if the prototype is a custom or factory. It’s really difficult to tell in the old photo. And white helmets with clear decals look really convincing. Maybe Tennessee had planned on actually wearing the prototype and Riddell made the pocket helmet, only to have Tennessee change their mind?
It’s possible Riddell released the chrome helmet as a special edition, two years before other chrome helmets were released. Riddell has released one-off Chrome and special edition helmets before, but doing that in 1997 would have been unusual, for sure. Still, it’s possible.
Maybe it was part of a team set and Riddell included the chrome helmet as a throwback. Riddell did this with other team sets.

I am definitely not calling anyone a liar or suggesting someone is trying to scam anyone. I only have several reasons to be skeptical. If the 81-96 Oilers chrome helmet is a true factory chrome helmet, that would be an awesome find! I certainly hope that’s the case. I’m curious if anyone else has this helmet or set.

Colts + Weird drops

Colts drop

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

1956-57. The Colts wore this as a throwback in 2004 and 2021-23. More about this later.
1978-94: The helmet with the white facemask. The Colts haven’t worn this since 1994.

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.

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!

Houston Texans Pocket Helmet Drop

The 2024 Texans alternate is the 5th 2025 limited edition and 20th overall (including 2024). There have been 10 alternates and 10 throwbacks. So everything is even steven now.

I don’t personally perfer helmet logos that are letters, but this one is pretty sharp. I like the attention to detail with the red flakes and Texans logo on the back. I also like this helmet because it’s difficult to make a customized version. The factory helmets are obviously sharper and cleaner.

The battle red from 2022 is one of my favorite alternates. I doubt Riddell will make that one as it is from a few years ago. In fact, this would have been a great opportunity to make team set: 2022 battle red alternate and the two 2024 alternates.

Updated Buccaneers Checklist

I appreciate feedback on my site and checklists. On a recent Buccaneers post, fellow collector Steve noted discrepancies in the modern Revolution pocket helmet flag size.

The two helmets on the left are from the same era and are representative of that style. In 2014, the Bucs changed the helmet color, logo and facemask. This is the middle revolution style helmet in the photo below. The next helmet on the right – the speed helmet – continued that style. The final helmet on the right is the helmet the Bucs currently wear today.

One may notice an anomoly with the middle revolution helmet. Although the flag is the same as the modern helmet, it’s noticably smaller. The actual flag was larger, as shown in the flags on the right. I suspect Riddell figured it couldn’t fit the sword hilt by the ear hole and reduced the size. Regardless, the actual helmet flag was similar in size to the flags on the speed helmet.

I also discovered the Bucs darkened in the pewter color in 2014. That color remains to this day.

So, this is a helmet error. Thanks to Steve for pointing this out! I updated the Bucs, revolution and teams websites to reflect this change.

Someday, I am going to research the 1976-96 creamsickle helmet facemask colors. Riddell has manufactured three helmets from this era: a two-bar, traditional, and speed as part of the 2024 limited edition series. They all have different colors. The two-bar is noticeably red. The traditional is orange. The speed is more of a bay orange color. And Riddell apparently manufactured a two-bar helmet with a grey facemask!

See the NFL hex colors website for more information on where I got “bay orange” from!

Saints Helmet Colors

When my new factory Saints alternate helmet arrived, I reevaluated the gold helmet colors. I noticed six different shades of pocket helmets, as shown in the photo below. The photo below displays the helmets in chronological order, from left to right.

I had to estimate some of the dates. And even though the pocket helmet color changed, in some instances I could find no evidence the actual helmet color changed on sites like the Gridiron Uniform Database, which has the Saints wearing seven different shades of gold in 1967-72, 1973-74, 1975-76, 1978-98, 1988-99, 2000-11, and 2012-present. Other sources have different information and dates. I wish the Saints helmets over the years site had better photos to compare.

So, I created the list below. It’s likely not entirely representative of actual helmet colors, so I wouldn’t refer to this list as definitive. But, I believe it’s definitive for pocket size helmets. Zoom in on the photo below to see the different shades.

1967-75: Old gold helmet, classic fleur de lis logo, grey facemask (traditional; this photo actually displays the 1968 version with the reversed stripes). This color and dates are confirmed.
1976-99: Gold helmet, classic fleur de lis logo, black facemask (traditional). This is the most obvious color change. This color and dates are confirmed.
2000-04: Light gold helmet, classic fleur de lis logo, black facemask (traditional). The color change here is subtle, but can be seen by zooming in. New Orleans did update the logo this year. So it makes sense the color would change as well. Research indicates the Saints kept this shade of gold until 2011. However, the Revolution style helmet, which entered into production around 2005, is noticeably different.
2005-11: Metallic gold helmet, modern fleur de lis logo, black facemask (revolution). The revolution style helmet has a noticeably strong metallic colors.
2012-14: Light metallic gold helmet, Metallic Gold, modern fleur de lis logo, black facemask (revolution). The Saints did change the shade of gold in 2012. And most claim that the color has remained consistent to this day. However, the newer revolution helmet is lighter and closer to the pre-2011 revolution helmet color than the contemporary speed gold helmet. I estimated the dates.
2015-present: Antique gold, modern fleur de lis logo, black facemask. This matches the contemporary color. Again, the date is an estimate based on the year Riddell started manufacturing helmets in the speed style.

1967-75 (trad), 1976-99 (trad), 2000-04 (trad), 2005-11 (rev), 2012-14 (rev), 2015-present (speed)

49ers Drop

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

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

1949-53: Dark blue helmet, red stripe
- No factory pocket helmet
- 1949-53: Leather strap facemask
- 1954: Lucite facemask
- 1955-61: Grey facemask
1961-74, 1994 throwback: Dark blue helmet, NY logo, red stripe, grey facemask
- Throwback Series 1 / Throwback Series 2
- Throwback NFC 1969 2-bar (“69”)
- Throwback 2-bar
1975: Dark blue helmet, NY disco logo, white-red-white stripes, white facemask
- No factory pocket helmet
1975 (pre-season): Dark blue helmet, white-red-white stripes, white facemask
- No factory pocket helmet
1976-80: Dark blue helmet, Giants logo, white-red-white stripes, white facemask
- No factory pocket helmet
1981-99, 2022-present throwback: Dark blue helmet, Giants logo, red stripe, white facemask
- Traditional
- Speed – 2024 limited edition
2000-present: Metallic blue helmet, NY logo, red stripe, grey facemask
- Traditional
- Revolution
- Speed
- Chrome
2016-21 alternate throwback: Metallic blue helmet, GIANTS logo, red stripe, grey facemask
- No factory pocket helmet
1937-47 alternate throwback: Metallic blue helmet, red stripes and wings, grey facemask
- Speed – 2024 limited edition
Super Bowl:

Possible Riddell Error with the Buccaneers Two-bar

Several years ago, I purchased a Bucs two-bar throwback with a grey facemask. The facemask is tightly attached to the helmet, but I thought it could be a factory error. I know the two-bar facemask is not the easiest thing to customize (I have broken a few helmets trying to change the facemask).

A fellow collector – Andrew – reached out to me. He had also found a Bucs two-bar helmet with the grey facemask. And noted it seems like a factory helmet. That is enough evidence for me to conclude that Riddell at some manufactured a Bucs helmet with a grey facemask.

I can find no evidence the Bucs wore a grey facemask. I checked with the primary authority on this, the Gridiron Uniform Database. In addition, Helmet History and the Helmet Project.

The grey helmet has the RIDDell marking on the back. This marking is associated with the 36-piece set (as opposed to other two-bar helmets, which have the RIDDELL marking).

I am going to assume these are factory helmets and add them to the Bucs checklist. I speculate Riddell made the helmet with the grey marking for the 36-piece set, realized the error, and continued with the orange facemask. The following sites have been updated:

So, you don’t need to add a Bucs throwback with a grey facemask to your collection. However, it is a cool oddity.

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.

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!!