NFL teams have had the luxury of experimenting with new looks on the field since the league began relaxing uniform design policies over the past decade.
The NFL expanded its uniform policy in 2018, allowing more jersey options per club, but a one-helmet limit per team due to safety concerns kept classics like the Philadelphia Eagles’ green uniforms on the sidelines due to color clashing between the jersey and helmet. In 2022, the NFL finally approved teams to wear two different helmet designs, and that number will increase to three starting in 2025.
There are 13 alternate helmets that will debut for the 2024 season. Some are creative new designs, others are all-white models, and some are classics that are gaining new life on the football pitch.
Without further ado, let’s take a look at the design of the new NFL alternate helmets. (Note: These helmets are categorized based on the appearance of the helmet alone, not the uniform they are worn with.)
The Giants celebrate their 100th season in franchise history with a “red hornThe uniform featuring the red and blue winged helmet they wore from 1937 to 1947 – a period that included the team’s first NFL championship in 1938.
Unfortunately, this helmet is the best part of a disastrous classic set. It looks best in black and white footage from the 1938 tournament.
The Jaguars are going back in time this season thanks to the “IntruderThe retro uniforms are inspired by the original threads worn by the team in its inaugural campaign in 1995. The helmets are all black and feature the original Jaguars logo used from 1995 to 2013.
The old Jacksonville helmets are expected to be a hit, but these helmets alone are getting a drop in our very complicated ranking system simply because they closely resemble the team’s natural appearance.
JETS Jets Jets Jets Jets nailed Rebranding This summer. They are. It doesn’t look like it anymore. The rival private academy located across town in this high school football movie.
It’s a stylish alternative, but it’s just a black version of the Jets’ base helmet.
As one of the few teams to experiment with an all-white new uniform this season, the Packers took a minimalist approach to their helmet. A small yellow stripe down the middle or some other accent color would have added a touch of distinction.
The “Winter Warning” moniker is pretty cute — it’s just a shame the Packers wore these jerseys on Oct. 20 instead of during a night game in the middle of a December snowstorm at Lambeau Field.
For the first time in team history, the Jaguars are introducing a helmet that features a non-black base color. The helmet looks great, but adding something more exciting like a teal face mask would have taken it from good to great.
At least they didn’t bring back those hideous two-tone helmets from the 2000s.
As you’ll notice later in this article, the Broncos earned high marks for their helmets that debuted this fall. And this was another winner. Bonus points for the little detail of the orange “5,280” — which, of course, represents the elevation of 5,280 feet above sea level.
During his first season at the helm in 2021, Lions coach Dan Campbell asked Lions president Rod Wood if they could bring back the black uniforms he wore as a player in 2006 and 2007. Wood said he would consider it if the Lions won the NFC North — something they hadn’t done since 1993.
Well, Campbell’s Lions won the league last season, and in return he got a new all-black jersey for his team in 2024 to wear with this shiny new blue helmet.
There is perhaps no better team color in all of sports than the blue worn by Honolulu.
This may be the first time in the history of any sport that jerseys last worn by players in 2018 have been referred to as classic jerseys, but the New York Jets are doing it anyway. And fortunately for them, the helmet is pretty cool.
The classic helmet also gets a new twist. Instead of a green face mask, New York opted for a gray face mask to mimic the headgear worn by Joe Namath and the 1968 Super Bowl champion New York Jets.
The city of Baltimore has come up with a new helmet called the Purple Rising. And it sure works.
The scary red eyes on the Ravens alternate logo, which are usually affixed to Players’ entrance tunnel At M&T Bank Stadium, it will now be spotted on Lamar Jackson’s helmet as he heads into the end zone.
Hopefully, more teams will follow the Ravens’ lead and make major changes to their future helmet designs.
Of all the new white helmets, the Vikings perform the best. The metallic grey accents on the face mask and the horns on each side are subtle but pack a punch.
*School Hymns Boost*
Houston, we have a rebrand.
For the first time in team history, the rookie Texans have unveiled a new uniform set that includes two new helmets. With a bull horn design on each side of the helmet, “Battle Red” follows a similar format to some of the best helmets in the NFL — think the horns of the Rams and Vikings or the wings on the Eagles’ hood.
The bright red should look great while being worn by the high-performance Texas offense as well.
It will take some time to adjust to the new “H” on the side of the helmet – at first glance it looks a bit like the UFL – but there’s no doubt this helmet will look great on the field.
Denver’s “D” helmet is not only the best helmet to come out this year, it may also be the greatest helmet in football history. The “D” logo, the blue and orange color scheme, and the clean white face mask – 10 out of 10. Five stars. 100% on Rotten Tomatoes. No reviews.
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