Tag: nfl

They’re back…the four-helmet team set.

In the 90’s and early 2000’s, Riddell released four-helmet sets. They were:

  • Chicago Bears – mix of regular and super bowl helmets
  • Dallas Cowboys
  • Denver Broncos
  • Green Bay Packers – super bowl team set
  • New England Patriots – mix of regular and super bowl helmets
  • Philadelphia Eagles
  • Pittsburgh Steelers – super bowl team set
  • Washington Commanders
  • Washington Commanders – super bowl team set

Most of the helmets were available individually or as parts of other sets, but some were exclusive to the four-helmet sets:

  • Bears: Monsters of Midway 2-bar
  • Bears: Hall of fame 2-bar
  • Cowboys: 1964-65
  • Cowboys: 1960-63
  • Packers: Super Bowl 1 original style – super bowl 1 logo / GB logo
  • Packers: Super Bowl 2 original style – super bowl 2 logo / GB logo
  • Lambeau Field original style
  • Patriots: 1991-92
  • Patriots: Super Bowl 36 original style – super bowl 36 / NE logo
  • Patriots: Super Bowl 38 original style – super bowl 38 / NE logo
  • Eagles: 1948-49 2-bar
  • Eagles: 1974-95 traditional style
  • Washington Commanders: 1965-68
  • Washington Commanders: Super Bowl 17 original style – super bowl 17 logo & score on both sides
  • Washington Commanders: Super Bowl 22 original style – super bowl 22 logo & score on both sides
  • Washington Commanders: Hall of Fame logo helmet (original style)

After about a 20 year hiatus, the four-helmet set is back. This new Packers includes the regular primary and two that were already released as part of the limited edition series. And it includes a new one, the 2026 alternate rivalries helmet.

For collectors, this is kind of problematic. With tax and shipping, the set can almost be $40. That’s a good deal for those who missed the original limited edition sales. But for a lot of us, it means we are paying $40 for one helmet.

Now, you can never have too many pocket helmets 🙂 And the leather one is pretty cool. Riddell might release the rivalries alternates (like they did this year) in 2027 for individual sale, including the Packers. If I lived close to Green Bay, I would probably visit the store and pick one up. But $40 is pretty steep.

Regardless, it’s cool to see Riddell moving back to the sets.

Rams, Bills & (another) Jets rivalries drop!

Six out of 8 rivalries helmets from 2025 have dropped. I think it’s safe to assume that two of the remaining 2025 Limited Edition drops will be the 49ers and the Dolphins.

The Jets alternate is the 49th pocket drop…meaning #50 is the next drop! Try not to think about the money you’ve spent 🙂 What I do like about the Limited Edition series is that they are heavy on alternates. 28/49 have been alternates. 33/49 alternate throwbacks.

The three teams highlighted in this post all had 2025 rivalry pocket helmets released by Riddell and announced new alternates for 2026. That’s my excuse for the delay in recent postings 🙂

I have updated the Limited Edition, Teams Checklist, and Factory Speed pages. In addition to the Bills, Jets, and Rams pages.

Jets Updates

The Jets also announced a new alternate for 2026: the white alternate. The white alternate seems to be a trend. I kind of like the clean, white or black look. At the same time, though, I must admit that I kind of miss the oranges, blues, reds, and multi-colored combinations of the 70’s and 80’s.

The Jets, by the way, have accumulated A LOT of alternates over the years. I also indicated if there is a factory pocket version of the helmet (as of 8/16/26):

  • 1993 Hunter green helmet with the white Jets logo
  • 1994 Hunter green helmet with the white Jets logo + white stripes
  • 2016-18 White alternate, the exact same as the 1998-2018 primary except with a white facemask (the primary had a hunter green facemask)
  • 2015-18 “Color rush” alternate. Same as the primary except the green had a metallic sheen.
  • 2022-23 Black alternate with the 2019-23 logo
  • 2024-25 Black alternate with the 2024-present logo – Speed limited edition
  • 2024-25 White throwback alternate (throwback to 1965-77, but with a different green, called “Legacy Green) – Speed limited edition
  • 2025 Black alternate with the 2024-present logo – Speed limited edition
  • 2026 White alternate with the 2024-present logo

Another fun fact about this release. The Jets now have the most unique factory speed pocket helmets with six. The Chargers, Commanders and….Browns all have five. The Browns are a little surprising as they are associated with a plain orange helmet. However, they’ve had two alternates (brown and white) and had subtle changes to their stripes and facemask.

2025 Rivalries
2026 alternate

Bills Updates

The Bills also announced their new alternate for 2026. The 2026 alternate is definitely interesting. This will be the first time since 1960 (!) that the Bills have not worn the Bill, whether the Bill was plain red, plain white (1994), or Blue with the red stripe. Quite a departure.

2025 rivalries
2026 alternate

Rams Updates

The 2025 rivalries helmet is the first Rams limited edition pocket helmet. The 2026 alternate could be the third helmet with the modern horns and the third color. I took a picture of the primary and the 2025 rivalries and frankly it’s difficult for me to tell. This will be the first white horns on a helmet since 2019. Previously, the horns were white between 1964-72.

Cardinals Alternate Rivalries Drop & 2026 new releases

We are halfway through the 2026 drops with the Cardinals alternate rivalries drop. This is the 47th overall and the 2nd for the Cardinals (the other being the black alternate). I think it’s a pretty nice design. The limited edition helmets have pretty good craftsmanship, in my opinion, and I expect this release to be the same.

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This is the fourth rivalries alternate. The other rivalries alternate releases were the Seahawks, Patriots, and Rams. There are four other rivalries alternates that Riddell has not released: 49ers, Bills, Dolphins, and Jets. I am going to assume the four other rivalries will eventually be released, leaving three helmets. There are some throwback and other alternate options from the last few years Riddell could release.

Moving forward, here are changes in the 2026 season that could be released. Many will be confirmed or finalized in August.

  • The new Titans and Commanders primaries are already available for pre-order. They obviously will not be part of the limited edition release series.
  • Two new Ravens alternates. A post on X imples the Ravens will keep their current primary and add two new alternates, the Purple Rising and Darkness helmet.
  • The Commanders will introduce a new black alternate (the W with an arrow through it).
  • The Rams apparently will wear an alternate in 2026. It’s not clear to me if the alternate will be the same as the 2025 rivalries alternate. The Rams are also “refreshing” their uniforms, but I don’t know if the helmet will change.
  • Rumored (not confirmed) Bills blue alternate helmet.
  • The NFC North and AFC South will be wearing rivalry alternate helmets in 2026. That’s eight. Here is the rivalries schedule:
    • 2025 Phase: AFC East and NFC West
    • 2026 Phase: AFC South and NFC North
    • 2027 Phase: AFC West and NFC East
    • 2028 Phase: AFC North and NFC South

This Sports Illustrated article did a pretty good job outlining the changes for 2026. All of the drop announcement images are below (not including the most recent Cardinals).

Another unexpected drop! The New York Giants alternate throwback

About a month ago, Riddell dropped the 2020-23 LA Chargers helmet. This was interesting because Riddell had previously only released contemporary helmets. The Chargers hadn’t worn this helmet since 2023…three years ago.

The most recent drop goes back to 2021. Here’s the story: In 2016, the Giants wore the 1981-99 helmet as a throwback. However, the NFL had a one helmet rule at the time. So, that Giants helmet has a metallic blue color, as opposed to the dark blue color the team actually wore between 1981 and 1999. That rule was repealed in 2022. So the Giants could wear the dark blue color starting 2022. Riddell released the dark blue helmet in February 2025.

You can also see in the photo below that the color of the 2016-21 helmet closely matches the primary color. Well done, Riddell. The craftsmanship for the limited edition helmets has been very good.

More info: Giants – Riddell NFL Pocket Pro Helmets

History of the GIANTS logo helmet
Giants Helmet History
Custom helmets:
Row 1: far left
Row 2: two on the left

Updated Checklist

There have been a total of 46 limited edition helmets. Eight are left in 2026.

Riddell manufactured alternates and throwbacks in the speed style for the Bengals (2), Eagles, and Lions. There are not part of the limited edition series. And the Bengals throwback was never actually worn by the Bengals.

The only teams without a limited edition series helmet (not including the Bengals, who have the two speed helmets) are the Chiefs and Raiders. I wouldn’t expect a limited edition from these teams as they have essentially worn the same helmet since the 90’s.

Who could be next? There are still five rivalries helmets from 2025 available. The fact that Riddell has released retired helmets in the limited edition series opens up possibilities, like the 2023 Lions, 2023 Texans, 2016-22 Broncos, 2023 Broncos, or 2023 Jets alternates, which I think are really cool. Or maybe the Bills, Colts or Saints throwbacks, all of which have been worn in recent years.

Throwback / Alternate

  • Total: 46
  • 2024: 15/15
  • 2025: 25/25
  • 2026: 6/14
  • Throwbacks: 16
  • Alternates (incl. rivalry): 25
  • Alternate throwbacks: 5

NFC: 26

  • East: 9 – Commanders 2, Cowboys 3, Eagles 1, Giants 3
  • North: 7 – Bears 2, Packers 2, Lions 1, Vikings 2
  • South: 5 – Buccaneers 1, Falcons 1, Panthers 1, Saints 2
  • West: 5 – 49ers 1, Cardinals 1, Rams 1, Seahawks 2

AFC: 20

  • East: 6 – Bills 1, Dolphins 1, Jets 2, Patriots 2
  • North: 3 – Bengals 0, Browns 2, Ravens 1, Steelers 1
  • South: 6 – Colts 1, Jaguars 2, Texans 2, Titans 1
  • West: 3 – Broncos 2, Chargers 2, Chiefs 0, Raiders 0

Note: The Bengals 1968-79 throwback, Eagles 1985-95 throwback, Lions 2023 alternate, and Bengals white alternate were manufactured in the speed style, but not released as part of the limited edition series. They are not included in this checklist.

Commanders drop!

Well, we have reached the end of the 2025 limited edition series. It’s a good one, IMO: A homage to the classic helmet of the 90’s. A lot of people were hoping for the Bills, but this is nice. Surprisingly, the Bills had zero helmets in the limited edition series, as did the Rams, Raiders, Chiefs, and Bengals (although the Bengals alternate is available online).

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The Cowboys had the most limited edition helmets with three. Teams with two helmets were the Commanders, Giants, Packers, Bears, Vikings, Saints, Jets, Patriots, Browns, Jaguars, Texans, and Broncos. The NFC had the most (8), followed by the AFC south and NFC north (6).

Who’s left?

Riddell pretty much covered 2025 throwbacks and alternates, with 11 exceptions. Maybe they’ll appear in 2026:

  • Bills 65-73 throwback (factory helmets are in the traditional and 2-bar styles)
  • Bills 87-01 red throwback (factory helmet in the traditional style)
  • Lions 55-56 plain silver throwback (also worn in 2017-20 and 2022 through 2025)
  • Cardinals, Bills, Rams, Dolphins, Patriots, Jets, 49ers, and Seahawks rivalries

Or they could go back to 2024 (4 helmets):

  • Chargers alternate with the navy bolt and yellow outline
  • Packers plain yellow-grey facemask alternate (worn in 2001 and 2021-24)
  • Saints 1976-99 throwback (worn in 2011, 2017 and 2022 through 2024)
  • Steelers 1974 throwback (essentially the same as the current helmet with a grey facemask)

2023 would also be cool (5 helmets). That’s the year of the honolulu blue Lions helmet with the mustang logo, the white Broncos with the D logo, the Jets black alternate, the Texans red alternate, and the other Chargers alternate (yellow blue with royal blue outline).

Final 2024-25 Limited Edition Checklist

See the Limited Edition site for more details

Throwback / Alternate

  • Total: 40
  • 2024: 15/15
  • 2025: 25/25
  • Throwbacks: 15
  • Alternates: 21
  • Alternate throwbacks: 4

NFC: 23

  • East: 8 – Commanders 2, 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: 17

  • East: 4 – Bills 0, Dolphins 1, Jets 2, Patriots 2
  • North: 3 – Bengals 0, Browns 2, Ravens 1, Steelers 1
  • South: 6 – Colts 1, Jaguars 2, Texans 2, Titans 1
  • West: 3 – Broncos 2, Chargers 1, Chiefs 0, Raiders 0

2024 Limited Edition Speed Series (1 of 2000): release date – team and details – manufacture date

  1. 2024/03/07: Dallas Cowboys 2022-present alternate – 2023/11
  2. 2024/03/28: Seattle Seahawks 1983-2011 throwback – 2023/11
  3. 2024/04/18: Chicago Bears 2022-present alternate – 2023/11
  4. 2024/05/09: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1976-96 throwback – 2023/11
  5. 2024/05/30: Carolina Panthers 2022-present alternate – 2023/11
  6. 2024/06/20: Atlanta Falcons 1966-69 throwback – 2023/11
  7. 2024/08/01: Green Bay Packers 2024-present alternate – 2024/05
  8. 2024/08/15: Detroit Lions 2024-present alternate – 2024/05
  9. 2024/09/05: Baltimore Ravens 2024-present alternate – 2024/05
  10. 2024/09/12: New York Giants 2024 throwback throwback – 2024/05
  11. 2024/09/26: Denver Broncos 1993-96 throwback – 2024/05
  12. 2024/10/17: New England Patriots 1982-90 throwback – 2024/05
  13. 2024/11/07: New Orleans Saints 2022-present alternate – 2024/05
  14. 2024/11/18: Miami Dolphins 1966-69 throwback – 2024/05
  15. 2024/12/19: Houston Oilers 1981-96 throwback – 2024/05

2025 Limited Edition Speed Series (1 of 525): release date – team and details – manufacture date

  1. 2025/01/23: Philadelphia Eagles 2022-present alternate – 2024/05
  2. 2025/02/06: Minnesota Vikings 2024-present alternate – 2024/09
  3. 2025/02/20: New York Giants throwback (GIANTS logo) – 2024/09
  4. 2025/03/06: San Francisco 49ers throwback – 2024/09
  5. 2025/03/20: Houston Texans 2024-present alternate (H logo) – 2024/09
  6. 2025/04/10: Washington Commanders 2022-present alternate — 2024/09
  7. 2025/04/17: Dallas Cowboys white throwback – 2024/09
  8. 2025/05/01: New York Jets 2024-present alternate – 2024/09
  9. 2025/05/14: Jacksonville Jaguars 2024-present alternate – 2024/09
  10. 2025/05/29: Chicago Bears 2019-present throwback – 2024/09
  11. 2025/06/12: Cleveland Browns 2023-present alternate – 2024/09
  12. 2025/06/26: Indianapolis Colts 2023-present alternate – 2024/09
  13. 2025/07/10: Denver Broncos 2024-present alternate – 2024/09
  14. 2025/07/24: Arizona Cardinals 2022-present alternate – 2024/09
  15. 2025/08/07: Minnesota Vikings 2023-present alternate throwback – 2024/09
  16. 2025/08/21: Houston Texans 2024-present alternate – 2024/09
  17. 2025/09/04: Dallas Cowboys 1976 throwback – 2024/09
  18. 2025/09/18: New York Jets 1965-77 alternate throwback – 2025/09
  19. 2025/10/02: Jacksonville Jaguars 1995-2008 throwback – 2025/09
  20. 2025/10/02: Cleveland Browns 2025 alternate – 2025/09
  21. 2025/10/30: Green Bay Packers 2025 throwback – 2025/09
  22. 2025/11/13: New Orleans Saints 2025 alternate – 2025/09
  23. 2025/11/20: LA Chargers 2025 alternate throwback – 2025/09
  24. 2025/12/11: Pittsburgh Steelers 2025 alternate throwback – 2025/09
  25. 2025/12/18: Washington Commanders 2025 alternate – 2025/09

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

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.
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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!

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.

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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

Cardinals + other drops

I was away for a few weeks on a week-long bike ride across Iowa (RAGBRAI). It’s basically spring break for adults 🙂

Cardinals Alternate

In my absence, Riddell released the 2022 Cardinals alternate. Some interesting things about the Cardinals helmets:

  1. This is not the only alternate in the Cardinals history. In 2016, the Cardinals wore a “color rush” alternate. It’s the exact same helmet but with a slightly darker shade of red.
  2. The 1961-2004 logo had no black border around the Cardinal. However, the traditional and chrome style helmets do have a black border. The throwback helmets do not.
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Here’s the count so far. More info here.

  • Total: 29
  • 2024: 15/15
  • 2025: 14/25
  • Throwbacks: 12
  • Alternates: 17

With 11 spots to fill for the 2025 limited edition series, one may think Riddell will run out of helmets. Using the 2024 helmets only, I count 8 throwbacks (Cowboys, Vikings, Packers, Saints, Jets, Steelers, Colts, Jaguars) and 2 alternates (Texans red and Chargers). I think the Texans and Jaguars are very likely to be next.

Hall of fame speed

The Hall of Fame shop released a hall of fame helmet. If it looks familiar to collectors, it’s because Riddell has released other versions in the other three styles: 2-bar, traditional, and revolution. Now, one can obtain a complete set (assuming they have the others).

  1. Two-bar – from Bears Super Bowl 4-piece team set
  2. Traditional – from Washington Football Team Super Bowl 4-piece team set
  3. Revolution – sold individually
  4. Speed – sold individually

Other 2025 releases

Several NFL teams have confirmed releases of throwbacks and alternates for the 2025 season. These could be likely candidates for the next limited edition series. Or even better, a helmets in regular production.

Packers 1924 throwback. How amazing would this look as a pocket helmet?

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Browns 2025 alternate. This could mean the white alternate is going away. We’ll see.

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Bills 1987-2001 throwback. This would be the first time the Bills wear a Red helmet since 2010. Riddell manufactured this style previously in chrome and traditional formats.

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Steelers “1933” throwback. This is strange for several reasons. The Steelers and Riddell claim this helmet is a 1933 throwback, which is obviously isn’t. But, they could be referring to the uniform. OK – fair enough. It would have been cool to see them use the 1933 leather helmet like the Packers did.

One could speculate the helmet is a throwback to 1962. While it did have a grey facemask, the text on that logo read “Steel,” not “Steelers.”

This 2025 alternate is the same design as the 2007 alternate throwback. But that helmet had a black facemask.

So, in the end, we will get a helmet design the Steelers never wore.

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Chargers 1988-2006 throwback. Riddell has already manufactured this helmet in the traditional, chrome, and revolution styles.

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Saints 2025 alternate. This is the same basic design as the black alternate.

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Commanders “Super Bowl throwback alternate.” An homage to the 1979-2019 era, minus the old logo.

Washington Commanders On-Field Alternate Riddell Full Size Replica Speed Helmet Super Bowl Era with Yellow Gold Facemask ​​New 2025

Bengals 1969-80 throwback. I haven’t seen anything official, but it appears Riddell made a factory version this pocket helmet.

Cincinnati Bengals NEW 2025 RIDDELL pocket pro helmet in package 1968-1979

Colts + Weird drops

Colts drop

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

  1. 1956-57. The Colts wore this as a throwback in 2004 and 2021-23. More about this later.
  2. 1978-94: The helmet with the white facemask. The Colts haven’t worn this since 1994.
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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.

May be an image of football and text that says 'NFI Rıddell POCKET POCKETSIZE SIZE HELMET NFL BENUALS TEAMS'

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!