NFL Relaxes Uniform Policy To Allow Teams To Wear Third Helmet Design

*Photo courtesy of @Lions on X/Twitter.*

The NFL announced in a memo on Wednesday evening it has relaxed its uniform policy to allow teams to wear a third helmet beginning with the 2025 season, though the option was offered to teams going through a redesign this offseason.

Here’s more from today’s memo to clubs about the third helmet design. The memo notes: “If either alternate color helmet is paired with a Classic uniform, the helmet colors and designs must be historically compatible.” pic.twitter.com/ulQqS7WffV
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 10, 2024

That means Detroit Lions, Denver Broncos, Houston Texans and New York Jets could all unveil an additional helmet design when they reveal their new uniforms later this month after it was previously expected that they would each keep the two shell colors they already have.

Thirteen teams introduced a second helmet in 2022 after the NFL relaxed its one-helmet rule, including the Jets, Texans, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Chicago Bears, Cincinnati Bengals, Dallas Cowboys, New England Patriots, New Orleans Saints, New York Giants, Philadelphia Eagles and Washington Commanders.

That number expanded to 21 teams in 2023, with the Broncos, Lions, Cleveland Browns, Indianapolis Colts, Minnesota Vikings, Seattle Seahawks, Tennessee Titans and Tampa Bay Buccaneers adding an alternate or throwback helmet to their uniform closet.

Of course, some teams were already permitted to use a third design by swapping the decals and/or facemasks on their standard or second helmets, including the Bears, Chargers, Colts, Cowboys, Giants, Jets, Lions and Saints.

Others, like the Bengals, don’t have that option because the stripes are painted on their helmets. Now, they could conceivably add another orange helmet to wear a 1968-80 throwback design alongside their current orange and white options.

Additionally, the Eagles initially unveiled a black alternate helmet before scrapping it in favor of their Kelly green throwback uniforms last season. They’ll now be able to wear both designs in 2025 and beyond.

The rules that currently apply to the second helmets will remain in place for the third lids, which means they can only be paired with an alternate, throwback or Color Rush uniform. If they’re worn with a classic design, it must be historically accurate, as well.

Teams planning to introduce a second or third helmet for the 2025 season must inform the league of their intentions by May 1, 2024. Those unveiling a second helmet this July would have also done the same thing last May.