Dolphins & NFL Draft Pocket Helmet Drop

A cool throwback to the helmet the Dolphins wore in 1966. And then again sporadically between 1969-73.

Between 1966 and 1979, the Dolphins wore the same helmet, but with two different logos. In one logo, the Dolphin is inside the ring. In the other logo, the Dolphin is outside the ring. In the early days, the Dolphins would sometimes wear the two different logos in the same game.

In 1966, the Dolphins wore both logos (inside and outside). Then, in 1967 and 1968, the Dolphins only wore the outside Dolphin logo. The inside ring helmet came back in 1969. It was worn until 1973, when the Dolphins returned to the logo with the Dolphins on the outside.

The inside ring logo was used again for game in 1994 as a throwback. However, that helmet had an aqua facemask, not a grey one. The style with the inside-ring + grey facemask not worn again until 2015 as a throwback. The Dolphins have worn this throwback every year since. This is the throwback the Dolphins just dropped.

You may be wondering about the outside ring logo. Well, that hasn’t been worn since 1979. It would make a fun throwback. And maybe the Dolphins could wear both the inside ring and outside ring in one game!

This is the 6th “limited edition” throwback Riddell had made in 2024. There have been 7 alternate “limited edition” alternates, for a total of 13 limited editions.

Other 2024 throwbacks that have not been manufactured in 2024 include: Chicago (1936-37, three orange stripes), Dallas (1960-63), Jacksonville (1995-12), New York Jets (1965-77), San Francisco (1989-95), and Tenneessee (Oilers, 1975-96).

Other 2024 alternates that have not been manufactured in 2024 include: Arizona (black), Cleveland (white), Denver (white), Green Bay (plain yellow with grey facemask), Houston (2 helmets), Indianapolis (black), LA Chargers (2 white), Minnesota (white), NY Jets (black), and Washington (black). There’s also a small backlog of 2023 alternates.

Riddell also released a speed style helmet in honor of the draft in 2025 in Green Bay.

Saints Alternate Drop

What is interesting about this drop is that it’s from a previous year. Most of the other “Limited Edition” helmets were from 2024. The other two being the Bears (2022-present) and Cowboys (2023-present).

This means Riddell is open to making speed alternates from before 2024. Pre-2024 helmets could include:

  • Cardinals black alternate (2022)
  • Bears three-orange striped (2019)
  • Browns white alternate (2023)
  • Broncos white 2023 and 2024 alternates
  • Lions honolulu blue (2023)
  • Colts black alternate (2023)
  • Texans battle red alternate (2022)
  • Eagles black alternate (2022)
  • Commanders black alternate (2022).

For 2024, non-factory alternates that Riddell has not manufactured are:

  • Broncos white
  • Jaguars white
  • Jets black
  • Texans steel blue
  • Texans red
  • Vikings white

Who will be next? The list above has 16 options. We know Riddell has already manufactured the Lions honolulu blue 2023 alternate, but just has not released it widely. Maybe Riddell will release all of them in due time? Or as a set?

Patriots 1982-1990 Pocket Helmet Drop

Riddell dropped the Patriots throwback today. For a little context, there are basically four iterations of this helmet.

  1. 1961-63: White helmet, Pat Patriot logo, red-white-red stripes, grey facemask. Riddell manufactured a factory helmet for the Throwback Series 2 and AFL 50th anniversary sets.
  2. 1964-92: White helmet, Pat Patriot logo, red-white-blue-white-red stripes. The only change made in 1964 was the addition of the middle blue stripe. This helmet had a grey facemask (1964-81), white facemask (1982-90), and red facemask (1991-92).

The 1964-81 factory pocket helmet is available as a two-bar and traditional style factory helmet. The 1991-92 factory pocket helmet is available in the traditional style (as part of a 4-piece team set).

So, what makes this drop unique is that it is the first factory helmet for this style. Very cool.

To my knowledge, 8 teams are wearing throwbacks this year. Riddell had manufactured a speed helmet for 5 of them. The other teams are the 49ers, Jaguars, and Jets. None of these teams have a speed helmet for the throwback. The 49ers is in the traditional style, Jaguars in the 2-bar, traditional, and revolution styles, and Jets in the 2-bar style.

Broncos Pocket Helmet Drop

The Broncos dropped a throwback today! This is a popular one. But it begs the question…a throwback to what era?

Photo from Riddell Collectables

A Mislabeled Helmet

The Broncos X feed claims this helmet is a throwback to 1977. The facemask and stripe colors are. The helmet color likely is, but that may not matter as the Broncos wore several shades of blue in this era.

However, it appears the D-logo on the actual helmet and the pocket helmet is the 1993-96 D-logo, not the logo the Broncos wore in 1977. So, the helmet is actually a throwback to the 1993-96 era, not 1977.

Broncos D-helmet era

The Broncos adopted the D-era helmet in 1968 and wore it through 1996. The team made the switch to the modern-logo helmet in 1997 (I am in the minority who prefer the modern helmet, but to each their own).

The helmet had several iterations, but I will try to simplify it. The Broncos wore a blue helmet between 1967 and 1996. The 1967 helmet was blue, but had no logo. Between 1967-73 the facemask was grey and was white between 1974-96. They all had various shades of blue. The Broncos wore the same logo until 1992. In 1993, the team updated the logos (see image below). The Broncos wore the D logo helmet again in 2016 through 2023 as part of the color rush/alternate series and in 2023 as a “white out” helmet.

This amounts to 6 different helmets (see the list below).

  1. 1968-70: Dark blue helmet, first ‘D’ logo, white-orange-white stripes, grey facemask
  2. 1971-73: Medium blue helmet, first ‘D’ logo, white-orange-white stripes, grey facemask
    • Throwback Series 2
      • The pocket pro displays the 1993-96 “D” logo. The Broncos actually wore the 1968-92 “D” logo
  3. 1974-75: Medium blue helmet, first ‘D’ logo, white-orange-white stripes, white facemask
    • No factory pocket helmet
  4. 1976-78: Dark blue helmet, first ‘D’ logo, white-orange-white stripes, white facemask
    • No factory pocket helmet
  5. 1979-92: Medium blue helmet, first ‘D’ logo, white/orange/white stripes, white facemask
    • No factory pocket helmet
  6. 1993-96, 2001 Throwback: Royal blue helmet, second ‘D’ logo, white-orange-white, white facemask
    • Traditional 99 Throwback (traditional style) / 4-piece Throwback Team set (traditional style helmet)
    • Speed. The Broncos X feed claims this is a throwback to 1977, but the logo on the helmet is from 1993-96.

If you don’t care about the shades of blue, there are only three helmet styles, not including the alternates: 1968-73 (grey facemask, first logo), 1974-92 (white facemask, first logo) and 1993-96 (white facemask, second logo).

Here are the D-logos. The old-D logo (1968-92) is on the left. The new D-logo (1993-96) is on the right.

Giants Pocket Helmet Drop

I like this one! Riddell will drop at Giants pocket size throwback helmet today. It’s a reference to the 1937-47 leather wing front helmet.

From Riddell Collectables

Pocket helmet trivia. This is only the 2nd factory Riddell pocket helmet that references a leather helmet. The other is the 1948 Rams which was part of the throwback series 1 and throwback 2-bar sets.

Leather helmets as contemporary throwbacks. Six teams have worn leather helmets as throwbacks in modern times:

  • The Bears have wore the 1936-37 leather helmet as a every year since 2019.
  • The Packers wore a throwback of sorts in 2010-11. It might be a reference to their original helmet color in the 1920’s through the 1930’s.
  • The aforementioned Giants 1937-47 helmet worn in 2024.
  • The Eagles wore a throwback to their 1933 leather helmet in 2007.
  • The Steelers wore a plain black throwback in 1994 as a tribute to the 1942 team. The 1942 team only wore the plain black leather helmet for two games. I assume it was easier to just remove the sticker.
  • The Commanders wore a plain brown helmet in 2012 as a throwback to the 1932 helmet when the team was the Boston Braves. In 1994 and 2020 the Commanders wore a plain burgundy helmet with a yellow (1994) and grey (2020) facemask. These could be homages to the burgundy leather helmets the Commanders wore in the 1930’s and 40’s.

Throwback / Alternate / Primary Updates

All factory 2024 primary helmets are up to date. These can be purchased online or in pro shops. Riddell has done a good job staying on top of these.

Since Riddell likes to stick to contemporary alternate helmets in the most recent speed style, I would guess the next factory helmets will be the Broncos, Jaguars (white), Jets (2024 black), Texans, or Vikings alternates. I suspect the alternates from the previous few years for the Broncos, Browns, Cardinals, Colts, Commanders, Eagles and Saints would be a lower priority. In terms of a throwback, I would guess the Patriots or the Dolphins.

Recent *Factory* Throwback and Alternate Helmets

Throwbacks:

  • Buccaneers 1976-96 – released in 2024
  • Eagles 1970s80s – – released in 2023
  • Falcons 1966-69- released in 2024
  • Seahawks 1983-2001- released in 2024
  • Giants 1937-47- released in 2024

Alternates:

  • Bears 2022-present (orange)- released in 2024
  • Bengals 2022-present (white)- released in 2023
  • Cowboys 2022-present (white) – released in 2024
  • Lions 2023 – released in 2024 (very rare)
  • Lions 2024 – present – released in 2024
  • Packers 2024-present (white) – released in 2024
  • Panthers 2022-present (black) – released in 2024
  • Ravens 2024-present (purple) – released in 2024

Gaps in Throwbacks and Alternates:

Throwbacks:

  • Bears 1936-37 (three orange stripes) – worn since 2019.
  • Broncos 1976-78 – starting in 2024.
  • Browns 1957-59 (player numbers on helmet) – worn in 2006-08 and 2021.
  • Chargers 1961-73 (white helmet with player number) – worn in the early 2000s. Factory helmet exist in throwback sets, however.
  • Colts 1956-57 (white helmet with horseshoes on back) – worn in 2004 and since 2021.
  • Cowboys 1976 (red white blue stripes) – worn in 2021-22. Also available as a factory throwback, however.
  • Dolphins 1989-96 – wore in the 2003 Thanksgiving game.
  • Dolphins 1966-73 – wore since 2015 as a throwback.
  • Eagles 1933 – wore in 2007 as a throwback
  • Giants 1981-99 – wore since 2016 as a throwback. Factory traditional style helmets exist.
  • Jaguars 1995-12 (factory helmets exist in other styles, however. Revolution, traditional, and 2-bar) – starting in 2024.
  • Jets 1978-89 – worn in 2023 as an alternate. However, Jets adopted this helmet as their primary in 2024. So factory helmets are around.
  • Lions 1954-56 (plain silver with grey facemask) – worn periodically since 2017.
  • Oilers 1960-63 (columbia blue) – wore in 1994 and 2009 as a throwback. Factory throwback helmets in traditional and 2-bar styles exist.
  • Oilers 1975-96 – wore in 2023 as a throwback by the Titans.
  • Packers 1955-50 (plain yellow with a green stripe) – worn in 2001 and 2021.
  • Packers 1920s helmets (plain brown) – worn in 2010-11 and 2022.
  • Patriots 1961-63 – wore in 2009 as a throwback. Factory helmets exist in throwback sets, however.
  • Patriots 1964-81 – wore in 1994 as a throwback. Factory helmets exist in throwback sets, however.
  • Patriots 1982-90 – wore in 2002, 2010-12 and 2023 as a throwback.
  • Vikings 1961-79 – worn in 2007-11 and 2023 as a throwback

Alternates:

  • Bills 1994 (red)
  • Broncos 2016-2023 – color rush
  • Broncos 2023 (white) – old Broncos logo
  • Broncos 2024-present (white) – current Broncos logo
  • Browns 2022-present (white)
  • Cardinals 2016 color rush
  • Cardinals 2022-present (black)
  • Chargers 2016-18 color rush (white)
  • Chargers 2020 alternate (different bolt colors; Chargers wore three helmets)
  • Chargers 2020 alternate (different bolt colors; Chargers wore three helmets)
  • Colts 2023-present (black)
  • Commanders 2022-present (black)
  • Eagles 2022-present (black)
  • Falcons 2016-present (matte black)
  • Jaguars 2024-present (white)
  • Jets 1993 (green)
  • Jets 1994 (green)
  • Jets 2015-18 color rush
  • Jets 2022-23 (black)
  • Jets 2024-present (black)
  • Lions 1994, 2001-02 (plain silver helmet with blue facemask)
  • Lions 2003-04, 08, 10 (plan silver helmet with black facemask)
  • Packers 1994, 2013-19 (plain yellow helmet with a green facemask)
  • Saints 2022-present (black)
  • Texans 2022-2023 (battle red)
  • Texans 2024-present (steel blue)
  • Texans 2024-present (2024 red)
  • Vikings 2024-present (white)

Lions and Packers pocket helmet drops

The 2024 Packers and Lions pocket helmets dropped. These are the 7th and 8th “limited edition” pocket helmets Riddell has released this year. Five of them are alternates. The other three are throwbacks (Bucs, Falcons and Seahawks).

What recent alternate will be next? The Ravens, Cardinals, Browns, Colts, Saints, Bears (3 stripes), Broncos, Texans (2), Jaguars, Commanders, Vikings, 2023 Jets, or 2024 Jets? Or maybe the 2023 Lions alternate?

Or maybe a 2024 throwback? The Giants, Broncos, Jaguars? Other recent throwbacks from the past few years have been from the Patriots, Bills, Broncos, Cowboys, Oilers, Colts and Dolphins.

Two Alternate Updates

The Jaguars and Packers added two “white out” helmets to their alternates this year. No news on the pocket helmet status, but none expected either as these are brand new. So, the Jaguars will wear three helmets in 2024: the white out, the 1995-2012 throwback, and their primary helmet. The Packers will wear two.

One might think the Packers have not worn a lot of alternates as their primary helmet has not changed since 1961. However, the white out helmet will be their fourth alternate since 1994. Here are the other three.

  1. 1994, 2013-19: Plain yellow helmet, green facemask. I believe the intent of this helmet is to be a throwback as it was worn in the 1994 throwback year. However, the Packers never wore a plain yellow helmet. Their yellow helmets have always had one or two stripes.
  2. 2001, 2021 alternate: Plain yellow helmet, grey facemask. This is the same helmet as above, just with a grey facemask.
  3. 2010-11 alternate: Plain brown helmet, grey facemask. I believe this helmet is a throwback of sorts to the 1951-53 plain brown helmet. The modern helmet is much darker, though.

If one doesn’t consider the facemask color, the Packers and the Browns have the oldest primary helmet designs still in use (1961). The Browns made a slight change to their striping texture in 2015-19, so maybe it’s not as continuous as the Packers.

The Jaguars and Packers join the Bengals, Broncos, Browns, Cowboys, and Vikings for teams that have worn the white out helmet in 2023 or 2024, for a total of seven.

Image
From UniSwag
Image
From Packers

Jaguars Throwback Update

The Jaguars introduced a throwback for 2024. It is the helmet they wore in 1995-2012.

This helmet is available as a pocket helmet in the 2-bar, traditional, chrome, and revolution styles. A lot of them are still available on various shopping sites. It is not available as a speed style factory helmet. I would anticipate it’s appearance as a factory speed pocket helmet is unlikely. But who knows?

Image
From Jaguars X site

Ravens Alternate

The new Ravens alternate dropped about a week ago. Check it out:

Photo from Baltimore Sun

I haven’t heard other rumors about alternates or primary updates for 2024. With the season only about 9 weeks away, it’s unlikely another helmet will be dropped.

There are seven brand new alternates for 2024: Ravens, Lions, Texans x2, Vikings, and Jets. Since 2022, there have been 13 others. I think all of these would make a nice set 🙂