NFL Allows Teams to Use 3rd Alternate Helmet Design After Uniform Policy Rule Change

Scott Polacek@@ScottPolacekFeatured Columnist IVApril 11, 2024

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

There could be some new NFL helmets in play in the near future.

Coral Smith of NFL.com reported Wednesday the league expanded its uniform policy and will allow teams to feature a third helmet if they meet various criteria. This comes after the NFL adjusted its uniform policy in 2021 to grant teams the ability to add a second helmet for the 2022 campaign.

According to Smith, any team going through a redesign process for the upcoming season will have a third helmet option. The league’s other teams will have the option for the 2025 season as long as they inform the league of their plans by May 1 of this year.

Count the Denver Broncos’ X account among those who are intrigued:

Denver Broncos @BroncosHm, that’s interesting. 🧐 https://t.co/jL1QbnvX8U

There are some restrictions, as the second and third “alternate-color helmets” must be historically compatible with the colors and designs of the classic uniform if they are paired together. What’s more, the alternate helmets can only be used with the authorized classic, alternate or color rush uniforms.

The league also had health and safety in mind with this change.

Any alternate helmet must have the same fit as primary helmets and be worn in practice for at least the week leading up to the game they will be worn. What’s more, they have to be the same make, model and size as the primary helmet.

Helmet safety was also in the news Tuesday, as Judy Battista of NFL.com reported the league will offer 12 new helmets for the 2024 season. Eight of those helmets are position-specific ones for quarterbacks, offensive linemen and defensive linemen.

Testing revealed five of the new helmets surpassed the safety level of any other helmet previously worn in NFL history:

Judy Battista @judybattistaThe annual helmet testing by the NFL and NFLPA is complete. 12 new helmets to choose from including 8 position specific ones for QB, OL and DL. And six performed so well players wearing them will be exempt from wearing Guardian Caps in practice. pic.twitter.com/c9Gdcogi3z

If everything goes according to plan, the NFL also hopes to have position-specific helmets for wide receivers and defensive backs by 2025.

And those position-specific helmets might be alternate colors by that season as well.