The NFL currently has a rule that a team cannot have two helmets as part of its submitted standard home and away uniforms.
Teams can wear a second helmet that is part of a regularly-worn throwback uniform up to two times a season, but not different helmets for a typical 16-game schedule.
That wasn’t always the case in the pre-merger NFL as during the 1969 season, the Eagles sort of had a cross-pollination of their 1968 uniforms and 1970 uniforms creating up to six different looks with their ’69 attire, all having the NFL 50th anniversary patch affixed on the left shoulder, with both white and green helmets.
And they certainly mixed and matched. During the 14 game season Philly wore each helmet seven times, white at home, green on the road, in addition to both sleeves, and no sleeves on both their green and white jerseys.
Think of the possibilities today, especially if the team ever decides to go back to more of a Kelly green or lighter pantone first worn up until 1973, then again from 1985-95.
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Authentic Store Buzz: More Nike NFL Elite jerseys have hit the store, including white and blue Cowboys jerseys (pictured above) for WR’s Dez Bryant and Miles Austin, and QB Tony Romo.
Also in at our 13th Street Center City location (pictured above) are two great ’47 Brand Eagles women’s stylish T’s, and just in time for the Olympics July 27-Aug 12 in London, a USA basketball snap-back hat from Sports Specialties.
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Please join us at lunch time a week from Thursday, July 19, as we welcome former Philadelphia Atoms soccer goalkeeper, and current Philadelphia Union broadcaster Bob Rigby to our Center City Philly store meeting with fans and signing autographs from 11:30-12:30.
Rigby, a Philadelphia-area native, helped lead the Atoms to the 1973 North American Soccer league Championship in his and the team’s rookie season, appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated, as the Atoms were the first U.S. team in any sports to win a professional championship in its first season.
We’ll have a reprint of the SI cover for Bob to sign. Hope to see you at out store as the soccer community in the Philly region will be alive with the MLS All Star Game the following week.
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Authentically Speaking Trivia Time: We wrote about 1994’s MLB’s 125th anniversary patch on Monday, what team did not wear it on either their home/away/alternate jerseys during the strike-shortened ‘94 season? Answer on Wednesday.
Monday’s answer: The 1978 San Diego Padres hosted the All Star Game at what was then simply known as San Diego Stadium on July 11, 1978, and they wore a patch commemorating the event on all three of their jerseys that season.
By the way, those ’78 jerseys are some of the few in MLB history to have the city name and team nickname on the front of the jersey.
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