Football Helmets

By Eric Geier

Most fans can’t remember it, but there was a time when football players didn’t wear helmets, subjecting their heads to serious punishment every time they were hit. Footballs’ origins can be traced back to 19th century England, where the game was called rugby. American soldiers and students overseas brought the game back to the States, adapting aspects of the game to what is now known as American Football. It started out on the collegiate level and gained popularity with young people, especially those living on the East coast and the Midwest. As the game gained popularity, rules changed; in 1888 college football changed its rules to allow tackling below the waist. As the hitting became harder and more aggressive, players and coaches saw the need to have better protective equipment. Leg and shoulder pads were developed first, then helmets.

The first helmets were introduced in 1915 and consisted of nothing more than a leather skull cap made out leather straps with some padding in between. A few years later, leather ear flaps were added after players had gotten their ears nearly torn off. Though helmets had been invented, they were not required in collegiate football until 1939. Though most of these early helmets are in the Hall of Fame or in the hands of private collectors, they occasionally pop up on Internet sites and if you have the means, they can be a great addition, adding a vintage feel to any sports memorabilia collection. In 1939, Gerry E. Morgan invented and patented the first plastic football helmet. Morgan was an employee of John T. Riddell, a sporting goods provider based out of Chicago. Even today, Riddell is one of the leading manufacturers and innovators of football helmets.  Their first plastic helmet was a sort of block shape and didn’t do much to defer a blow to the head. They reshaped the helmet into a “tear drop” shape, allowing for a head-on blow to be deflected to either side of a players head. 

In the mid 1950s, Riddell and legendary coach and football genius Paul Brown developed the BT-5, which is a single bar across the front of a plastic helmet, thus protecting a player’s face. Possibly the most important innovation came in 1971 when Gerry E. Morgan developed air cushions inside the helmet. The air cushions were small, vinyl bubbles that were crammed into every open space in the helmet, allowing for air to be pumped into the helmet which inflated the vinyl bubbles, creating a sort of air cushion to protect a players head.

Today, football helmets are made from a heavy duty plastic, with the face masks being made out of metal with a hard rubber coating. The inside of the helmets have air cushions that can be inflated or deflated to a players liking. Football helmets start out as polycarbonate alloy which is basically small, round plastic balls. When the alloy arrives at the factory it is melted down and set into a pre-made mold. If there are colors on the helmet, they are usually pre-baked into the alloy or color is added to the melted alloy mixture. The molded helmet is popped out of the mold, holes are drilled and excess plastic is cut away. Liner and cushioning is added to the inside of the helmet. The face mask, ear pads and chin strap are attached and the football helmet is complete. Usually a specified amount of helmets are taken off the assembly line and thoroughly tested, so manufacturers are sure that their helmets will protect all those who use them.

Autographed football helmets are one of the most common pieces in the sports memorabilia market. Helmets can be found on nearly every memorabilia website and they are signed by a variety of players. One way to boost a memorabilia collection is to track down a game-worn helmet. These are usually more expensive and harder to find, but they are a good investment and have a very high re-sale value.

Did you mean, Ridell, Riddel, Jerry Morgan, Gery E. Morgann or Gerry E. Morrgan?