Traditional & Chrome

Traditional-style Pocket Pro helmets were manufactured in the late 1990’s and, sporadically, through about 2004. Chrome helmets were also made in this era, also in the traditional style. Many helmets have a time stamp of either 1997 or 1999 on the inside of the helmet. There were three sets: 1997 (green packaging), 1999 (yellow packaging), and 2003 (red packaging).

Traditional pocket pros have round ear holes and are heavier than later pocket pro series. Almost all of the traditional helmets also have a small “R” under one of the ear holes.

See Checklist at the bottom of the page for a list of traditional style and chrome helmets.

1997 Traditional Set

The traditional 1997 set had green packaging. Each division had its own packaging.

Three helmets can only be found with this set (although they may have been sold individually at some point):

  • 1990-97 green NY Jets helmet with the black facemask.
  • The Ravens logo was changed in 1999 after a local resident filed a copyright lawsuit. This helmet is also only available in this set.
  • Finally, the Houston Oilers ceased to exist after the 1996 season. So it’s only available in this set.

1999 Traditional Set

The 1999 sets had yellow packaging. With the return of the Cleveland Browns, there were 31 teams. So, Riddell issued a throwback helmet with 5 of the 6 divisions to even things out.

Photos from Westbrooks Sports Cards

1999 Set Throwbacks:
– Chicago Bears 1962-73. Also in Throwback Series 1 set.
– Dallas Cowboys 2004-14 alternate/throwback. Also in Throwback Series 1 set. This helmet is more of a darker-white with a darker grey facemask.
– Denver Broncos 1993-96. Only available in this set and the 4-piece team set.
– New England Patriots 1964-81. The 1964-81 New England Patriots with the regular grey facemask and red/blue stripes is also only available with this set. A 2-bar facemask version exists in the 1969 AFC throwback 2-bar set.
– San Francisco 49ers 1989-95. Only available in this set.

Tennessee Oilers

The Houston Oilers moved to Tennessee in 1997. For two years, the team was known as the Tennessee Oilers. The helmet was identical to the Houston Oilers helmet, with the exception of a tiny State of Tennessee logo near the earhole. This helmet was not associated with any set and was only sold individually.

2003-05 Traditional Sets

2003-05 sets had red packaging. The helmet style was the same as the 1997 and 1999 sets and still included the “R” under the ear hole.

Later Versions

Riddell continued to manufacture helmets in the traditional style with the Throwback series 1 and 2 sets and other iterations. Riddell also continued to sell individual helmets with the original style in red packaging. By around 2005, however, Riddell had switched to the Revolution style of helmet.

Traditional Style Helmet Checklist

  1. Atlanta Falcons 1997-2002: Black helmet, black facemask, connected feather lines, V-neck
  2. Atlanta Falcons 2003-19: Black helmet, modern falcons logo, no stripes, black facemask
  3. Arizona Cardinals 1960-04: Plain white helmet, traditional cardinal logo with no black outline, grey facemask
  4. Baltimore Ravens 1996-98: Black helmet, original ‘wing’ logo, purple spike stripes, black facemask
  5. Baltimore Ravens 1999-present: Black helmet, raven logo, purple spike stripes, black facemask. Some logos on the pocket pro helmets have a gold outline and others have a silver outline
  6. Buffalo Bills 1987-2001: Red helmet, blue bison with red stripe, white-red-blue-red-white stripes, white facemask
  7. Buffalo Bills 2002-10: Red helmet, blue bison with red stripe, white-blue-silver-black-silver-blue-white stripes, white facemask
  8. Carolina Panthers 1995-2011: Silver helmet, original Panther logo, black-blue stripes, black facemask
  9. Chicago Bears 11983-present: Navy blue helmet, orange wishbone “C” logo, navy blue facemask
  10. Cincinnati Bengals 1981-2011: Orange pattern helmet, black facemask
  11. Cleveland Browns 1975-2005: Orange helmet, brown-white-brown stripes, white facemask
  12. Dallas Cowboys 1967-present: Silver helmet, blue star with blue and white outline, blue-white-blue stripes, grey facemask
  13. Denver Broncos 1997-2023: Midnight blue helmet, modern bronco logo, tapered orange stripes, midnight blue facemask
  14. Detroit Lions 1983-2002: Silver helmet, blue Lion with white outline, blue-white-blue stripes, blue facemask
  15. Detroit Lions 2003-08: Silver helmet, blue Lion with white/black outline, blue-black-white-black-blue stripes, black facemask
  16. Green Bay Packers 1980-present: Yellow helmet with “G” logo, green-white-green stripes, green facemask
  17. Houston Oilers 1981-96: White helmet, blue derrick with red outline, red-white-blue-white-red stripes, red facemask
  18. Houston Texans 2002-2023: Midnight blue helmet with Texans logo
  19. Indianapolis Colts 1995-2003: White helmet, bright royal blue horseshoe logo, bright royal blue stripe, blue facemask
  20. Indianapolis Colts 2004-19: White helmet, speed blue horseshoe logo, speed blue stripe, grey facemask
  21. Jacksonville Jaguars 1995-2012: Black helmet, old jaguar logo, black facemask
  22. Kansas City Chiefs 1974-2011: Red helmet, smaller arrow logo with bolder outline, white facemask
  23. Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams 1981-99, 2009-19: Millennium blue helmet, yellow horns, blue facemask
  24. Los Angeles/St. Louis Rams 2000-16: Millennium blue helmet, gold horns, blue facemask
  25. Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers 1988-2006: Blue helmet, white bolt with blue and yellow outline, blue facemask
  26. Miami Dolphins 1997-2012: White helmet, dolphin #4, aqua-blue-white-orange-white-blue aqua stripes, aqua facemask
  27. Minnesota Vikings 1985-2005: Purple helmet, classic horn, purple facemask
  28. New England Patriots 1994-99: Silver helmet, modern royal blue Patriots logo, red facemask
  29. New England Patriots 2000-present:  New century silver helmet, modern Patriots logo, red facemask
  30. New Orleans Saints 1976-99: Gold helmet, classic fleur de lis logo, black-white-black stripes, black facemask
  31. New Orleans Saints 2000-11: Gold helmet, modern fleur de lis logo, black-white-black stripes, black facemask
  32. New York Giants 1981-99: Blue helmet, Giants logo, red stripe, white facemask
  33. New York Giants 2000-present: Blue helmet, NY logo, red stripe, grey facemask
  34. New York Jets 1990-97: Hunter green helmet, white Jets text with black outline, black facemask
  35. New York Jets 1998-2018:  White helmet, hunter green Jets logo, hunter green-white-hunter green stripes, green facemask
  36. Oakland Raiders 1964-96: Silver helmet, black shield, Raider with glares on silver helmet and black stripe, grey facemask. Note: All of the original/traditional Raiders pocket pro helmets display the 1964-96 logo, even if they were made after 1997.
  37. Philadelphia Eagles 1996-present: Midnight green helmet, modern wing, midnight green facemask
  38. Pittsburgh Steelers 1977-2001: Black helmet, Steelers 1963-2001 logo, black facemask
  39. Pittsburgh Steelers 2002-present: Black helmet, Steelers 2002-present logo, black facemask
  40. San Francisco 49ers 1996-2008: Gold helmet, SF logo with black text border in red circle with black and gold border, black-red-black stripes, red facemask
  41. Seattle Seahawks 1983-2001: Silver helmet, classic Seahawk, blue facemask
  42. Seattle Seahawks 2002-11: Teal helmet, modern Seahawk, teal facemask
  43. Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1997-2013: Pewter helmet, classic flag, brown/black facemask
  44. Tennessee Oilers 1997-98: White helmet, blue derrick with red outline, red-white-blue-white-red stripes, red facemask 
  45. Tennessee Titans 1999-2017: White helmet, T logo, tapered stripe, navy blue facemask
  46. Washington Commanders 1978-2019: Burgundy helmet, chief logo, white-burgundy-yellow-burgundy-white stripes, yellow facemask

These throwback helmets were included in sets with contemporaneous helmets. The Broncos and 49ers helmets were only sold contemporaneous with these sets. The Patriots helmet is also available as a two-bar helmet in the AFC 1969 2-bar set. The Bears helmet is also available as a two-bar helmet in the NFC 1969 2-bar and Throwback 2-bar sets. The Cowboys helmet is also available in the Throwback Series 1 set.

Traditional Style Chrome Helmets

To my knowledge, three chrome pocket pro sets were manufactured.

  • The first chrome set was a 34-piece set manufactured in 2000. This set has 31 teams (the Houston Texans were not founded yet) and 3 NFL shield helmets, in silver, blue and red.
  • The next set was identical to the 34-piece set, but added an NFC and AFC logo helmet, for a total of 36 pieces.
  • A third set included the Texans helmet, but none of the NFL shield or NFC/AFC logo helmets. So, this set had 32 helmets.

Riddell also sold the chrome helmets individually-packaged. All of these helmets are in the original style. Some have an “R” under the earhole.

I think Riddell discontinued the chrome helmets around 2004 or 2005. That was around the time Riddell transitioned to the Revolution style helmet. Additionally, I have not seen a chrome helmet for a team with a helmet design 2005 and after.

Riddell apparently released a speed style chrome helmet in honor of the Mexico City game in 2018 or 2019.

All chrome helmets, including super bowl, shield, and soda helmets

Because the chrome helmets were manufactured between 2000 and 2005, five teams that transitioned to new helmet styles have two versions of the Chrome helmets.

  • Atlanta Falcons: 97-02 and 03-present
  • Buffalo Bills: 87-01 and 02-10
  • Detroit Lions: 83-02 and 03-08
  • Indianapolis Colts: 95-03 and 04-present
  • Seattle Seahawks: 83-01 and 02-11

There are five chrome shield helmets:

  • Silver helmet – NFL shield, white facemask
  • Red helmet – NFL shield, white facemask
  • Blue helmet – NFL shield, white facemask
  • Silver helmet – Red “A” AFC logo, red facemask
  • Silver helmet – Blue “N” NFC logo, blue facemask

There are also three chrome helmets with soda logos:

  • Coke
  • Diet Coke
  • Sprite

Chrome Checklist

See also: Super Bowl Chrome Helmets

Super Bowl Chrome Helmets (see Super Bowl pocket pro helmet site for more information)

  • Super Bowl 1: Green Bay Packers
  • Super Bowl 2: Green Bay Packers
  • Super Bowl 3: New York Jets
  • Super Bowl 4: Kansas City Chiefs
  • Super Bowl 5. Baltimore Colts
  • Super Bowl 6: Dallas Cowboys
  • Super Bowl 7: Miami Dolphins
  • Super Bowl 8: Miami Dolphins
  • Super Bowl 9: Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Super Bowl 10: Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Super Bowl 11: Oakland Raiders
  • Super Bowl 12: Dallas Cowboys
  • Super Bowl 13: Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Super Bowl 14: Pittsburgh Steelers
  • Super Bowl 15: Oakland Raiders
  • Super Bowl 16: San Francisco 49ers
  • Super Bowl 17: Washington Commanders
  • Super Bowl 18: Oakland Raiders
  • Super Bowl 19: San Francisco 49ers
  • Super Bowl 20: Chicago Bears
  • Super Bowl 21: New York Giants
  • Super Bowl 22: Washington Commanders
  • Super Bowl 23: San Francisco 49ers
  • Super Bowl 24: San Francisco 49ers
  • Super Bowl 25: New York Giants
  • Super Bowl 26: Washington Commanders
  • Super Bowl 27: Dallas Cowboys
  • Super Bowl 28: Dallas Cowboys
  • Super Bowl 29: San Francisco 49ers
  • Super Bowl 30: Dallas Cowboys
  • Super Bowl 31: Green Bay Packers
  • Super Bowl 32: Denver Broncos
  • Super Bowl 33: Denver Broncos
  • Super Bowl 34: St. Louis Rams
  • Super Bowl 35: Baltimore Ravens
  • Super Bowl 36: New England Patriots
  • Super Bowl 36: Logo helmet (on both sides)
  • Super Bowl 37: Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  • Super Bowl 38: New England Patriots
  • Super Bowl 38: Logo helmet (on both sides)
  • Super Bowl 39: New England Patrios
  • Super Bowl 39: Logo on one side / Pepsi logo on one side
  • Super Bowl 40: Pittsburgh Steelers – I cannot verify if Riddell made a factory helmet for this super bowl. I have only seen one picture on the internet, and it’s not conclusive.