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.

LA Chargers Throwback Alternate Drop

The countdown is on … two more left after this Chargers drop. Thank goodness because I only have the energy for two more 🙂 Now a set…that I can get excited about!

Why do I call this a throwback alternate? Because it looks like the original 1988-06 helmet. However, the helmet the Chargers wore in 2025 had white player numbers. Could it be a player royalty thing (they could have used 00)? Or maybe it’s some issue with the paint?

This is only the 3rd limited edition helmet from the AFC west. Riddell has made this style Chargers helmet before in chrome, traditional, and revolution styles. (The helmet with the yellow facemask below is a custom).

That means there will a helmet for this style in all the four of the five types (not including the 2-bar helmets). A surprisingly high number of teams share this distinction, with a few having all five styles:

Atlanta 2003-19
Baltimore 1999-present (all five styles)
Carolina 1995-2011 (four styles, but not speed)
Chicago 1983-present
Cleveland 1975-05/2024-present
Dallas 1967-present (all five styles)
Denver 1997-23
Green Bay 1980-present
Houston 2002-23 (all five styles)
Indianapolis 2004-19
Jacksonville 1995-08, 2024 throwback (all five styles)
LA Rams 2000-16
New England 2000-present
NY Giants 2000-present
NY Jets 1998-2018
Philadelphia 1996-present
Tennessee 1999-2017

Another Saints Drop!

We are getting towards the end. After the 2025 Saints white alternate, there are only three left in the limited edition series. It appears Riddell has moved on from 2024, so it’s likely 2025 will be it.

I wonder if Riddell will do this again in 2026. The helmets are undoubtedly very cool. But buying them one a time is expensive. My 5-year old dog went into kidney failure this weekend and fortunately survived. But the vet bill!!! Maybe it would be nice to take a year off in 2026 for the limited edition individual sales 🙂 I personally like the sets, like Riddell used to do in the old days. How cool would a rivalries set be?

For 2025, Riddell’s options are the two Bills throwbacks, the blue Chargers throwback, Steelers throwback alternate, and Commanders throwback alternate. It’s looking like the Bengals, Rams, Chiefs, and Raiders won’t get a limited edition helmet.

Some Saints helmet facts:

The Saints have a factory helmet for every style and era (not including the awesome 1969 pre-season helmet). The join the Bengals, Bucs, Jaguars, Panthers, Ravens, Seahawks, and Vikings. The Saints will wear three different helmet styles in 2025. I am assuming they’ve moved on from the throwback.
The Saints logo is a fleur de lis, or a stylized lilly flower. The Saints have used five versions of the logo throughout the years.
- The first (1967-99) was black with a white outline.
- The 1969 preseason helmet also displays the old fleur de lis, but is gold with a white outline.
- The logo was updated in 2000 and is more ornate. It is black with a white and then black outline on the outside.
- The fleur de lis on the black alternate helmet displays a gold fluer de lis with a black and then white outline on the outside.
- The 2025 white alternate displays the same fluer de lis with a white and then black outline.
While researching this article, I discovered the fleur de lis also has a troubled history. Today, however, New Orleanians see it as a symbol of unity.

Limited Edition Checklist

Throwback / Alternate

Total: 37
2024: 15/15
2025: 22/25
Throwbacks: 15
Alternates: 20
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 2
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

Packers Drop!

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

Browns drop: The first 2025 season limited edition.

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!)

Black football helmet with orange stripe running from front to back, featuring multiple ventilation holes on sides and top, clear faceguard with metal bars, and Riddell branding visible on the side. Second image shows similar angled view highlighting the orange stripe and matte black finish with faceguard details.

Jaguars Drop

This is a throwback to the 1995-2008 helmet. It sounds weird that a helmet as recent as 2008 would have a throwback! A few other fun facts:

Riddell made this helmet in two-bar, traditional, chrome, and revolution styles. Now that there’s a speed factory helmet, this is one of the few helmets for which Riddell has made a factory pocket helmet in all five of the factory styles. The only other teams are the Cowboys, Texans, and Ravens.
For a long time, I thought this helmet was worn through 2012. But in 2009, the Jaguars changed the color to a SpectraFlair black. A fellow collector brought that to me attention. Otherwise, it is the same. More info about that on a blog post I made.
This is the second limited edition Jaguars drop, the other being the white alternate.

From 2024, the only throwback helmets left are the Colts and Saints. I expect Riddell will release them. There’s also the Steelers helmet with the grey facemask and plain yellow Packers “throwback.” Excited to see what’s next!

Jets Helmet Colors

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.

1965-77, 1998-2018, 2024 alternate special edition throwback

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.

Jets Drop

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.

Years	Jets logo color	Facemask color	Pocket helmet
1965-77	Kelly green (logo at a slight angle some years)	Grey	2-bar factory
1998-18	Hunter green	Hunter green	traditional revolution speed chrome
2016-18 alternate	Hunter green	White	None
2015, 2017-18	Metallic green	Metallic green	None
2024 throwback alternate	Legacy green	Grey	Speed (limited edition)

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)

Cowboys Drop

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)

Rivalries helmets & Josh Allen alternates

I couldn’t find good pics of the 2025 rivalries helmets. But FB Helmet Guy makes awesome graphics. Check the site because the graphics and helmet designs are really good: https://x.com/FB_Helmet_Guy. Here are other fun facts:

The Jets have A LOT of alternates, including 1993, 1994, 2016-18, 2022-23, 2024-present, and now the 2025 rivalries. And only the 2024 black alternate is the only factory made helmet.
This will be the Bills first alternate since their classic 1994 alternate. No factory helmet available for this helmet.
This is the first Seahawks alternate helmet.
This is the 3rd Cardinals alternate. The first in 2016 was a ‘color rush’ alternate with a darker shade of cardinal red in the logo. The second was the black 2023-present alternate.
These are the first alternates for the Rams, 49ers, and Patriots.
In 1994, the Dolphins wore their 1960’s throwback. But it had an aqua facemask, so it was more of an alternate throwback.

Looking at the lineup, I think two four-helmet sets would be AWESOME. We’ll see what Riddell does with these, if anything.

With the exception of the Seahawks (and maybe Cardinals), all of the helmets use the recent black or white trend. That might be a little played. Rather than lean into a team’s colors and do something creative, these helmets come off as kind of bland. For example, what about a white Rams helmet with blue or gold horns? The 49ers could have gone with a red helmet. I think a blue Patriots helmet would be cool.

Josh Allen Alternates

Speaking of alternates, the Bills could have gone with some of the alternates Josh Allen was worn over the last few years in the pre-season. He’s got a nice tradition going. I think they look sharp. In 2025, Allen wore the throwback the Bills will wear during the season.

August 2024 – photo from Buffalo Bills

August 2023 – photo from UniWatch, Phil Hecken (8/3/2023)

August 2022- photo from Buffalo Bills