We really haven’t seen the Kansas City Chiefs wear an alternative helmet since the team paid tribute to its roots as the Dallas Texans during the 2009 season. Since then, it’s been the same classic look Chiefs fans know and love.
Well, beginning in 2022, the NFL will be allowing all 32 clubs to have the option of having more than one helmet for different uniforms. That means classic old-school looks like the Philadelphia Eagles’ Kelly Greens, the Buccaneers’ Creamsicles, and the Falcons’ ‘Dirty Birds’ uni all have the green light to make a comeback. It also means the Chiefs have permission to mix things up if they so choose to.
Player safety has the number one driver that has kept every NFL team from wearing alternate helmets for quite some time. The hope was by preventing players from switching between helmets over the course of the season, it would help prevent concussions.
As first reported by NBC Sports’ ProFootballTalk, the league has set forth new rules that will bring classic alternative looks back while making corresponding alternate helmets just as safe as the normal one’s players wear almost every day.
Beginning in 2022, all secondary and alternate helmets must be the same make, model, and size as every player’s normal helmet. They also need to be fitted at the same time as their normal helmets at the beginning of the season. Alternate helmets also have to be worn at practice during the week leading up to the game in which they’ll be used. Additionally, alternate helmets must also be available to every player that is on the roster at the start of the season.
Finally, teams who wish to wear more than one helmet in 2022 have to inform the league by the end of July.
