In a cool drop, Riddell released the 1923 leather helmet. Some fun facts:

• This is the oldest factory helmet, albeit a throwback. Other factory throwbacks that reference a leather helmet include the Bears 1936-37 (speed), Eagles 1940’s (two-bar, although worn as a hard shell in 1952), and Rams 1948 (traditional and two-bar).
• The is the 2nd Packers limited edition helmet.
• The Packers wore a plain brown helmet in 2010-11. I assume that was some kind of homage to the brown leather helmet. There is not a factory version of this helmet. The Packers have also worn a plain yellow helmet with green or grey facemasks over the years. I assume these are also a homage to the plain yellow leather helmets. But this is the first helmet that attempts to replicate the leather helmet look.

Predictably, it sold out quickly. With a ceiling of 24 helmets per order, some entreprenuers – others might choose a different name 🙂 – are selling them for around $70 each on eBay. This is a niche hobby. I can’t image there’s a market for those prices. I would expect prices to come down. Maybe I am wrong.

There are four helmets left. It appears Riddell may have moved on to 2025. If so, we have some cool options, like the two Bills throwbacks, Steelers yellow alternate, Chargers navy throwback, Saints white alternate, and Commanders burgundy alternate.

Counts so far

Throwback / Alternate

• Total: 36
• 2024: 15/15
• 2025: 21/25
• Throwbacks: 15
• Alternates: 19
• Alternate throwbacks: 2

NFC: 21

• East: 7 – Commanders 1, Cowboys 3, Eagles 1, Giants 2
• North: 6 – Bears 2, Packers 2, Lions 1, Vikings 2
• South: 4 – Buccaneers 1, Falcons 1, Panthers 1, Saints 1
• West: 3 – 49ers 1, Cardinals 1, Rams 0, Seahawks 1

AFC: 15

• East: 4 – Bills 0, Dolphins 1, Jets 2, Patriots 2
• North: 2 – Bengals 0, Browns 2, Ravens 1, Steelers 0
• South: 5 – Colts 1, Jaguars 2, Texans 2, Titans 1
• West: 2 – Broncos 2, Chargers 0, Chiefs 0, Raiders 0

I didn’t know this was the “Alpha Dawg” limited edition helmet! But here it is: the first 2025 limited edition pocket helmet. It’s the 2nd Browns limited edition (the other being the white alternate).

I assumed Riddell would finish 2024 before moving on to 2025, but that’s not the case. The only helmets from 2024 that could be released are the Colts and Saints throwbacks. Maybe the Steelers, Packers, Chargers, and Lions throwback alternates as well.

But if we’ve moved on to 2025, the options are the two Bills throwbacks, Packers throwback, Saints white alternate, Steelers throwback alternate, and Commanders throwback alternate.

(And the blue Chargers throwback. Thanks to Michael Dole for catching that!)

I received the limited edition helmet today. It’s accurate, but I wouldn’t describe it as a “throwback” as the logo color does not appear to match the 1965-77 or 1998-2018 logos. I am going to classify the special edition speed as an “alternate throwback,” similar to the Vikings special edition release a few months ago.

Here are the pocket versions of the helmets with the oval and green logo. Two of them are custom (the ones with the metallic green and white facemasks).

And an updated photo of all the Jets factory helmets.

Today we got the 2nd Jets drop. It’s a throwback to the 1965-77 helmet and was worn in 2024.

The Jets have worn five different versions of this helmet. The 2024 throwback has a different color than the actual helmet the Jets wore in 1965-77. I’ll compare the new speed limited helmet to the 2-bar pocket helmet when the speed helmet arrives in the mail.

The current checklist is below. There are seven more left! I think the Saints, Jaguars, and Colts throwbacks will also be released.

Throwback / Alternate

• Total: 33
• 2024: 15/15
• 2025: 18/25
• Throwbacks: 13
• Alternates: 18
• Alternate throwbacks: 2

NFC: 20

• East: 7 – Commanders (1/1), Cowboys (3/3), Eagles (1/1), Giants (2/2)
• North: 6 – Bears (2/2), Packers (1/2), Lions (1/1), Vikings (2/2)
• South: 4 – Buccaneers (1/1), Falcons (1/1), Panthers (1/1), Saints (1/2)
• West: 3 – 49ers (1/1), Cardinals (1/1), Rams (0/0), Seahawks (1/1)

AFC: 13

• East: 4 – Bills (0/0), Dolphins (1/1), Jets (2/2), Patriots (1/1)
• North: 2 – Bengals (0/0), Browns (1/1), Ravens (1/1), Steelers (0/1)
• South: 5 – Colts (1/2), Jaguars (1/2), Texans (2/2), Titans (1/1)
• West: 2 – Broncos (2/2), Chargers (0/1), Chiefs (0/0), Raiders (0/0)

The 1976 Cowboys throwback dropped. This is the third Cowboys limited edition helmet and 7th from the NFC East, which is the most. It is the exact same as the regular Cowboys helmet, except with a red stripe. The Cowboys brought this helmet back as a throwback in 2021.

Riddell has made this helmet before. It was made in the traditional style for the Cowboys 4-piece team set.

Below are the updated counts. With the except of the Saints throwback, I have to think the NFC is done for this year. That leaves room for the Jaguars, Colts, and Jets throwbacks. Almost certainly the Jaguars as that’s appeared on eBay (likely bootlegged). Maybe the Bengals throwback with the letters as well?

Throwback / Alternate

• Total: 31
• 2024: 15/15
• 2025: 17/25
• Throwbacks: 12
• Alternates: 18
• Alternate throwbacks: 1

NFC: 20

• East: 7 – Commanders (1/1), Cowboys (3/3), Eagles (1/1), Giants (2/2)
• North: 6 – Bears (2/2), Packers (1/2), Lions (1/1), Vikings (2/2)
• South: 4 – Buccaneers (1/1), Falcons (1/1), Panthers (1/1), Saints (1/2)
• West: 3 – 49ers (1/1), Cardinals (1/1), Rams (0/0), Seahawks (1/1)

AFC: 12

• 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: 5 – Colts (1/2), Jaguars (1/2), Texans (2/2), Titans (1/1)
• West: 2 – Broncos (2/2), Chargers (0/1), Chiefs (0/0), Raiders (0/0)

Riddell dropped the Texans 2024 alternate. Once one recognizes the horns, it’s not a bad design. I prefer the 2023 red alternate, but I don’t think we will see that one as Riddell seems focused on 2024 and beyond.

So, who is left from 2024? As always, check out the graphic by Michael Dole on the pocket helmet Facebook site. It’s really cool. For 2024, we still have:

1. Cowboys 1976 throwback with the red-white-blue stripes.
2. Colts 1956-57 throwback, worn in 2024 and after 2021 as a throwback.
3. Packers 2021-present “throwback. This one is plain yellow with a grey facemask. The Packers actually never wore this style helmet, but they did wear a plain yellow leather helmet.
4. Saints 1976-99 throwback, worn periodically as a throwback between 2011 and 2024.
5. Jets 1965-77 throwback, worn in 2024.
6. Jaguars 1995-2008 throwback, worn in 2024. If you didn’t already feel old, let that sink in: a helmet worn in 2008 is already a throwback!
7. Steelers throwback (the same helmet but with a grey facemask)

So, Riddell has released 16 out of 25 for the 2025 limited edition series, leaving nine helmets left. They’ll have to go back to 2023 or look ahead to the 2025 season.

I think the Jaguars are in the que. I wouldn’t be surprised if all the helmets in the list above, except for maybe the Packers or the Steelers, will be next. Here’s the updated stats:

• Total: 31
• 2024: 15/15
• 2025: 16/25
• Throwbacks: 11
• Alternates: 18
• Alternate throwbacks: 1

NFC: 19

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

AFC: 12

• 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: 5 – Colts (1/2), Jaguars (1/2), Texans (2/2), Titans (1/1)
• West: 2 – Broncos (2/2), Chargers (0/1), Chiefs (0/0), Raiders (0/0)

And we are down to 10 left in 2025!

Not gonna lie…I did not expect this one. But I am happy to see it! I have always liked the Vikings helmet.

I didn’t expect it because it’s what I call an alternate throwback. Let me explain:

• In 1961-79, the Vikings wore a helmet with their classic horn and a grey facemask. That helmet was dark purple.
• The Vikings wore the same helmet as a throwback in 2007 through 2011. At the time, the Vikings primary helmet was a kind of medium, fade purple. The throwback they wore was dark, making it a true throwback.
• In 2023, the Vikings brought the throwback back. But this time, they kept their primary helmet’s lighter purple.

So, this latest drop is not a true throwback, but more of an alternate throwback. This is the 30th limited edition speed helmet, and the first alternate throwback. I made a new category and added it my list:

Special edition count

• Total: 30
• 2024: 15/15
• 2025: 15/25
• Throwbacks: 12
• Alternates: 17
• Alternate throwbacks: 1

The Vikings are one of seven teams to have a complete factory set from Riddell (the others are Balt, Car, Cin, Dall, Sea, and Tampa). This is the fourth Vikings factory speed helmet. Only the Lions have more (5). The Browns and Commanders also have four.

Who’s next?

I gotta think the Jags and Texans are in the cue as factory helmets are appearing on eBay, likely as factory bootlegs (for lack of a better term). I’d personally like to see the Colts, Jets, and Saints throwbacks as well. I’m indifferent to the Cowboys, Steelers, Packers throwbacks and Chargers alternates as they are so easy to make as customs or already exist in previous iterations.