-
First football helmet
The first helmet was made by George Barclay. He developed the "head harness" by designing a headgear which had three thick leather straps forming a close fit around his head, made by a harness maker.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_football_helmet -
Period: to
Football Helmet Timeline
-
Leather football helmet
This leather helmet was used by the Syracuse University football team. -
Plastic football helmet
The plastic football helmet was invented and patented by John T. Riddell and his son John T. Riddell Jr., of the John T. Riddell Company in Chicago. -
First face mask helmet
G.E. Morgan a consultant to Riddell, and Paul Brown the coach of the Cleveland Browns, invented the BT-5 face mask which is the single bar design. -
Energy absorbing helmet
The Riddell Company received a patent for "Energy Absorbing and Sizing Means for Helmets." The result: new HA-91 and HA-92 energy-absorbing, "microfit" helmet. -
Helmet with four point chin straps
Because of concern for safety, four point chin straps were required in college ball. -
Rigid plastic helmets and face masks
Space age rigid Polycarbonate alloy plastic helmets and vinyl coated steel alloy face masks were the norm in the 1980's and 1990's. -
Spherical helmet design
2002 Riddell released a new more spherical design for the helmet called the Revolution (or Revo) and it is currently the most widely used helmet in the National Football League
