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The NFL’s history of helmet designs reflects the evolution of the game itself, from the early days of leather helmets to the advanced, safety-focused designs of today. Over the years, some teams have experimented with unique and creative helmet styles, while others have stuck with classic, timeless looks. However, not every design has been a hit with fans or critics. Let’s dive into some of the worst NFL helmets of all time, based on aesthetic appeal, design flaws, and fan reactions.
Denver Broncos
The Broncos’ helmet design is disappointing
The Denver Broncos’ new helmet is plain ugly. The Broncos first wore their previous uniforms and helmets in 1997. They won the Super Bowl in those uniforms in 1997 and 1998. This made their helmets very famous. The Broncos also won another Super Bowl after the 2015-16 season.
Even though the team did well in their navy and orange colors, fans wanted a change. So the Broncos changed their uniform and helmet and this one is horrible. The white bronco design is just not good, their old helmets were way better. The team also has classic light blue helmets as an alternate option, which would be nice if the horse design wasn’t so ghastly. They should have just stuck to their old helmets.
Tennessee Titans
Titans’ current helmet is considered the weakest
What is this supposed to be? It’s like they had five different ideas for the logo and kept them all. No one will ever understand how they decided on a circle with blue flames. The Tennessee Titans went from having the NFL’s best helmet to one of the worst. The Titans current helmet is considered the weakest in franchise history. When the Titans were the Houston Oilers, they had a classic helmet.
After moving to Tennessee, the team changed its name to the Titans and introduced a white helmet with the same strange logo they used. In 2018, the Titans got rid of the white helmet and introduced navy helmets. They also replaced the blue facemask with a silver one. This change made things even worse. We believe the Titans can do better and they really need to.
Arizona Cardinals
The Cardinals’ helmets need a major upgrade
The Arizona Cardinals desperately need a new look. Arizona’s uniforms are some of the worst in sports, and the new set they introduced in 2023 didn’t help much. Their main helmet is very plain, just a white shell with the ‘birdhead’ logo, making it look boring and outdated. The alternate helmet, black with a metallic-looking ‘birdhead’ and a black facemask, is slightly better, but not by much. This small improvement isn’t enough to make a real difference.
The team should seriously consider upgrading both their helmets and uniforms as a whole. A good design can make the team look more professional and exciting. Right now, the plain white helmet doesn’t stand out at all. Even the black helmet, with its slight shimmer, isn’t enough to bring any real flair to the field. When the light hits it right, you can see red sparkles in the paint, a feature that Louisville’s college team often uses. This touch is nice but doesn’t save the overall look.
Washington Redskins
Washington Redskins changed their helmets due to trademark issues
The United States has one of the best systems in the world for protecting names and products. The best thing when you don’t want anyone to use your name or logo is to register it as a trademark. This is done through the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO). However, a trademark cannot be registered if it insults or disrespects any person or group.
The Washington NFL team faced this issue. The PTO rejected their trademark for the name “Redskins” because it was offensive to Native Indian American people. As a result, the team had to change its name to the Washington Commanders. The old NFL helmet was also strange and awkward-looking, so this change was necessary. Now, they have a new name and a new look, moving away from their controversial and odd past.
Baltimore Ravens
Ravens helmet design criticised for poor aesthetics.
The Baltimore Ravens have been one of the most successful NFL franchises in the last decade, but they don’t look particularly nice doing it. According to ESPN’s Uni Watch rankings, the Ravens remain one of the NFL’s worst-dressed teams, ranking 23rd out of 32.
Criticism of the team’s design comes from several areas. Many people don’t like the purple-black color combination, saying it doesn’t look good together. Others think the numbers on the uniforms are poorly designed and hard to read. The bird head logo on the helmet also got a lot of bad reviews. Some fans think it’s an improvement from the old “Flying B” logo the team used in its early days, but it’s still not a good look. The raven on the helmet should look a lot scarier. This one looks hungry for a sandwich.
Jacksonville Jaguars
Jaguars’ new logo fails to impress
The Jacksonville Jaguars are another team whose helmet design has gotten worse over the years. From 1995 to 2012, Jacksonville used their original logo, which featured a fiercer-looking Jaguar. This made their helmets some of the best in the league. However, in 2013, they switched to a two-tone helmet design, which many people didn’t like.
After five seasons, Jacksonville got rid of the two-tone helmets and went with a solid black helmet with a new Jaguar head logo. But this logo isn’t as good as the original. We think the modern Jaguar logo just doesn’t look right. The original fierce Jaguar was much better and made the helmets stand out more. It’s that simple; this look just wasn’t good.
New England Patriots
Patriot Pat’s helmet was far superior
Patriot Pat is much better than the New England Patriots‘ current ‘Flying Elvis’ helmet. If the team had brought back their old white helmets with Patriot Pat on them, they probably wouldn’t be on this list. However, since they mostly wear their silver helmets now, we have to include them here.
This silver helmet with a red facemask looks plain, and the ‘Flying Elvis’ logo is not attractive at all. Even though the team has been successful while wearing this helmet, it is still a bad look. The worst part is that it’s unlikely they will switch back to the old design anytime soon. The current helmet design is likely to stay because of the team’s recent success.
Miami Dolphins
Dolphins’ classic logo is still missed
Imagine a helmet featuring a dolphin wearing a helmet—an iconic and classic design. However, the Miami Dolphins have replaced it with a new logo that just doesn’t seem to fit. It’s odd to think that such a unique and interesting design would need to be changed.
Dolphins fans still love the old logo because it reminds them of the best times in the team’s history. During the Don Shula years, Miami went to five Super Bowls and won two of them. Their perfect 16-0 season in 1972, where they won every game, was played with those helmets featuring the old logo. This era was very successful for the Dolphins, and the old logo is a big part of that legacy. The change of the Dolphins logo has been criticized for a long time now.
Detroit Lions
Lions new helmet design receives mixed reactions
The Detroit Lions have had a similar helmet design since 1961. The basic look of the helmet, which is silver with a blue lion logo, has stayed the same even though the lion logo has been updated a few times. The Lions recently made some changes to their helmet. Now, their helmet is silver with a blue facemask, blue stripes down the middle, and the same blue lion logo.
The team also introduced a new blue alternate helmet. These new designs have caused a lot of mixed feelings among fans. Most people don’t like it and think it looks bad.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Buccaneers’ helmets look silly with chrome.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers helmet hasn’t changed much except for the chrome grill, which is a missed opportunity. The helmets might have looked better without the shiny finish. Recent trends show that helmets without a polished look are often better, and the chrome grill makes these helmets look silly.
A black logo could have looked better and might have improved the overall helmet too. Now here is the thing: the pirate theme with skulls and swords is cool. But with the red color, the helmets look like something from a Disney movie.
