Things were different in the old days. School let out early, women didn’t work, and football helmets were made out of leather. Enforced on college teams in 1939 and the NFL in 1957, they were the last of the pads to be mandated, despite their proven ability to protect the skull. The glory days of the hand sewn, multi-colored, padded helmet came about after tackling had been approved below the waist, forcing all players to wear pads in an effort to prevent further injury.
The first word of a leather football helmet comes from Annapolis, Minnesota in preparation of an Army-Navy game. Here, in 1893, a shoemaker created a helmet out of moleskin for Admiral Joseph Mason Reeves, who had been advised by a Navy doctor that he would be risking death if he suffered another blow to the head. In an effort to prevent such injury, the shoemaker created a leather helmet for only him. All other records indicate that the initial “head harness” was designed in 1896 by George Barclay of Lafayette College. Constructed by an Easton harness maker, his helmet was composed of three strips of padded leather which he introduced to the world in a pivotal game against Pennsylvania on October 24, 1896.
Needless to say, these helmets have undergone many changes over the years as players struggled to find comfort and protection. Quickly, they added more padding, realizing that their helmets were almost as flimsy as aviator caps, and around 1915 flaps with ears were added for better on-field communication and maneuverability. The leather was painted in multiple colors, used to help distinguish players and show team spirit, and in 1948 the Rams’ helmet broadcasted the first logo of their mascot. Soon, every college, pro, and high school team’s helmet proudly sported their logo and/or mascot due to Fred Gehrke’s creativity.
A breakthrough in helmet history came in 1917 when Bob Zuppke, an innovative Illinois coach, introduced the idea of suspension. He fashioned a helmet that cradled the skull away from its leather shell, and in effect, away from the detriment of football’s battery. Here, he used straps of fabric to form a pattern inside the helmet while absorbing and distributing impact. Even better, ventilation was created, allowing the head to breathe while amplifying its protection. It was at this point that Rawlings and Spalding, football entrepreneurs of the millennium entered the picture.
After much thought and design, Vern McMillan introduced a facemask, the final stage of the leather helmet’s production. Fastened in the 1930s, it was a simple rubber-covered wire mask attached to the face of the leather helmet. Meant to put an end to the horrendous amount of broken noses and teeth resulting from the game, it produced another problem. Men soon grabbed at each other’s masks, forcing penalties because of their intimidation attempts.
A video of the Leatherheads trailer gives you a good idea of how the helmets looked and the game was played. Our football resources page also has some great site related to football helmets.
Things were different in the old days. School let out early, women didn’t work, and football helmets were made out of leather. Enforced on college teams in 1939 and the NFL in 1957, they were the last of the pads to be mandated, despite their proven ability to protect the skull. The glory days of the hand sewn, multi-colored, padded helmet came about after tackling had been approved below the waist, forcing all players to wear pads in an effort to prevent further injury.