 Autographed Chicago Bears Helmet - Signed by Walter Peyton and Dick Butkus - COA US $305.00 
|
 LANCE BRIGGS CHICAGO BEARS SIGNED MINI HELMET US $75.00
|
 GALE SAYERS BEARS THROWBACK HOF SIGNED AUTHENTIC F/S HELMET JSA HOLO COA US $159.99
|
 Steve Grogan Signed Superbowl XX 20 Mini Helmet (Patriots and Bears) US $32.99
|
 Gale Sayers Autographed Chicago Bears Mini-Helmet - with Ticket from Signing US $64.95
|
 George Blanda Signed HOF Chicago Bears Mini Helmet COA US $144.99
|
 CHICAGO BEARS Team Signed Full Size RIDDELL HELMET w/COA US $349.95
|
 2011-2012,CHICAGO BEARS,TEAM,SIGNED,AUTOGRAPHED,FULL SIZE HELMET,COA,WITH PROOF US $399.99
|
 Gale Sayers Signed Chicago Bears Custom TK 2 Bar Full Size Suspension Helmet JSA US $395.00
|
 GALE SAYERS AUTOGRAPHED CHICAGO BEARS THROWBACK MINI-HELMET w/HOF 77 INSC US $30.00
|
 GALE SAYERS CHICAGO BEARS HOF 77 SIGNED MINI HELMET WITH COA US $50.00
|
 Brian Urlacher Signed Chicago Bears Mini Helmet! LB US $65.12
|
 Brian Urlacher Signed Chicago Bears ProLine Helmet! LB US $300.12
|
 Chicago Bears Legends Signed ProLine Helmet! Urlacher+ US $325.12
|
 Jay Cutler Autographed Chicago Bears Replica Helmet US $450.00
|
 Dick Butkus Signed Chicago Bears Throwback FS Helmet US $160.12
|
 Gale Sayers Signed Chicago Bears Riddell TB Mini Helmet US $60.12
|
 Gale Sayers Signed Chicago Bears Throwback FS Helmet US $150.12
|
 DICK BUTKUS signed Bears mini helmet signed 10-23-1999 with COA US $77.77
|
 Matt Forte signed Chicago Bears Mini Helmet - Rookie RB US $60.12
|
 Mike Ditka Signed Chicago Bears Riddell Mini Helmet US $65.12
|
 Mike Singletary Signed Chicago Bears Mini Helmet! LB US $65.12
|
 Nathan Vasher Signed Chicago Bears Mini Helmet! US $55.12
|
 DANIEAL MANNING (Bears) signed mini helmet w/COA US $29.95
|
 Devin Hester Chicago Bears signed mini helmet US $9.99
|
 MIKE SINGLETARY CHICAGO BEARS SIGNED MINI HELMET w/ COA US $49.99
|
 MIKE SINGLETARY AUTOGRAPHED CHICAGO BEARS MINI-HELMET w/'HOF 98' INSCRIPTION US $44.00
|
 BRIAN URLACHER AUTOGRAPHED CHICAGO BEARS MINI-HELMET * GA US $36.00
|
 DAN HAMPTON SIGNED BEARS MINI HELMET *HOF 02* DANIMAL * US $69.99
|
 DAN HAMPTON SIGNED CHICAGO BEARS MINI HELMET HOF 2002 US $44.99
|
 Jack Brickhouse Bears Signed Micro Mini Helmet PSA DNA US $249.99
|
 THOMAS JONES Arizona Cardinals Chicago Bears KC Chiefs SIGNED Mini Helmet US $9.99
|
 BRIAN URLACHER AUTO CHICAGO BEARS MINI-HELMET * GA US $195.00
|
 MIKE SINGLETARY AUTO CHICAGO BEARS AUTHENTIC MINI-HELMET w/HOF 98 - SB XX CHAMP US $195.00
|
 William Perry Chicago Bears Signed Mini Helmet US $39.99
|
 Brian Urlacher & Dick Butkus Signed Chicago Bears Mini Helmet, COA, Picture US $99.00
|
 Devin Hester Signed Chicago Bears Mini Helmet w/PIC US $89.00
|
 Jim McMahon Signed Chicago Bears Mini Helmet w/PIC US $79.00
|
 J. McMahon & M. Ditka Signed Chicago Bears Mini Helmet US $64.00
|
 MATT SUHEY signed *CHICAGO BEARS* mini helmet W/COA 2A US $75.00
|
 Mike Richardson Chicago Bears Autographed Signed Mini Helmet w/Picture US $19.99
|
 GALE SAYERS Signed Chicago Bears Football Helmet Kansas Comet US $165.95
|
 Matt Suhey Signed Chicago Bears Mini Helmet w/COA Penn State Walter Payton US $99.95
|
 Matt Suhey Signed Mini Helmet w/COA Penn State Nittany Lions Walter Payton Bears US $99.95
|
 Chicago Bears George Mcafee signed Mini Helmet JSA US $75.99
|
 GALE SAYERS Bears Signed HOF Mini Helmet AUTOGRAPH w/ COA - SWEET BEARS AUTO !! US $59.99
|
 Matt Suhey Bears autographed Penn State Lions mini helmet US $99.99
|
 Mike Singletary Signed Chicago Bears Riddell Mini Helmet Global Authentic US $79.95
|
 George Blanda Signed Chicago Bears Mini Helmet! PSA/DNA US $99.95
|
 Gale Sayers Signed Chicago Bears Throwback Mini Helmet, Global Auth, Picture US $74.95
|
 GALE SAYERS & DICK BUTKUS SIGNED BEARS MINI HELMET PSA US $179.99
|
 THOMAS JONE CHICAGO BEARS SIGNED MINI HELMET WITH PHOTO & COA US $40.00
|
 DANIEL SEPULVEDA SIGNED BAYLOR BEARS HELMET STEELERS US $29.99
|
 Mike Singletary Signed Chicago Bears HOF 1998 Full Size Helmet JSA US $424.99
|
 BRIAN URLACHER Signed CHICAGO BEARS Mini Helmet + JSA witness COA US $95.00
|
 Chicago Bears Autographed Mini Helmet US $125.00
|
 CHICAGO BEARS BRIAN URLACHER 54 SIGNED AUTO RIDDELL FB HELMET SCHWARTZ AUTHENTIC US $199.20
|
 JIM MCMAHON CHICAGO BEARS SBXX CHAMPS SIGNED MINI HELMET 2 US $50.00
|
 MIKE DITKA SIGNED CHICAGO BEARS FULL SIZE HELMET - PITT Panthers - ESPN - Saints US $175.00
|
 MIKE SINGLETARY,CHICAGO BEARS,SIGNED HELMET COA PROOF US $129.99
|
 Bernard Berrian Signed Chicago Bears Mini-Helmet US $34.99
|
 DICK BUTKUS SIGNED CHICAGO BEARS MINI HELMET HOF w/PIC US $119.99
|
 MIKE DITKA SIGNED HALL of FAME MINI HELMET Chicago Bears - PITT Panthers - ESPN US $65.00
|
 BRIAN URLACHER SIGNED BEARS MINI HELMET COA AUTOGRAPHED US $95.00
|
 Jim McMahon "SBXX" SIGNED F/S Bears Proline Game Helmet PSA P98238 US $295.00
|
 Ron Rivera signed Chicago Bears mini helmet with Super Bowl inscriptions JSA COA US $70.00
|
 ROBERT GRIFFIN III RG3 AUTOGRAPHED/SIGNED BAYLOR BEARS FULL SIZE SCHUTT HELMET US $107.50
|
 Ron Rivera Signed "Super Bowl XX" Chicago Bears Mini Helmet PSA Q56138 US $99.95
|
 Leslie Frazier Signed "Super Bowl XX Champ" Chicago Bears Mini Helmet PSA Q56086 US $99.95
|
 Leslie Frazier Signed "Super Bowl XX Champ" Chicago Bears Mini Helmet PSA Q56087 US $99.95
|
 BRIAN URLACHER DICK BUTKUS MIKE SINGLETARY AUTOGRAPHED CHICAGO BEARS MINI-HELMET US $259.00
|
 JIM MCMAHON HAND SIGNED CHICAGO BEARS MINI HELMET w/COA & PICTURE SIGNING HELMET US $99.00
|
 DANIEAL MANNING CHICAGO BEARS AUTOGRAPHED MINI HELMET US $49.00
|
 Devin Aromashodu Chicago Bears Signed Mini Helmet w/PIC US $9.99
|
 BRIAN URLACHER DICK BUTKUS SINGLETARY AUTO BEARS HELMET US $389.00
|
 MIKE SINGLETARY AUTO BEARS MINI-HELMET w/HOF INSC * GA US $145.00
|
Bears Helmet
Petraeus signs a Bears Helmet for a soldier's sick father
Football Helmets - Then and Now
While we tend to think of football helmets as standard gear now, it wasn't always that way. Even though helmets failed to become mandatory until after World War II, primitive helmets could be spotted on playing fields as far back as the late 1890s and early 1900s. One of the first noted appearances of football headgear occurred in 1896, when Lafayette College halfback George Barclay began using earpieces held together with leather harness straps to protect his ears. Barclay's crude attempt at protecting his ears, was likely the inspiration for some of the earliest versions of helmets, called "head harnesses," which were primarily designed to cover the ears and built out of soft leather. The original head harnesses covered the ear completely and were criticized for making communication on the playing field difficult. The next incarnation of the helmet, appearing around 1915, incorporated holes in the earflaps to allow better on field communication and included a padded leather "cap" that offered more protection of the skull. By 1917, the next great innovation arrived and helmets begin to feature some suspension rather than resting directly on the skull, which allowed better absorbing and distribution of impact, as well as increased ventilation.
Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, makers began to utilize harder leathers and incorporate cushioning for greater protection. During this time, the shape of helmets began to evolve toward more of a teardrop or spherical shape which allowed the impact of a blow to slide to one side or the other rather than being absorbed head-on.
The biggest advancement of helmet innovation, however, came in 1939, when the first plastic football helmet was introduced by the John T. Riddell Company of Chicago. The new helmets proved to be stronger, lighter, and more durable than their leather counterparts. Along with producing the first plastic helmets, Riddell is credited with creating the first plastic face mask and adjusting the placement of the helmet strap moving it from the throat to the chin.
Despite its strengths, the plastic helmet also had major pitfalls which slowed its acceptance by the general football community. In head on collisions, the plastic helmets split easily and the face mask tended to disconnect without warning. Riddell quickly adjusted the construction and design of the helmet and, with the support of coach George Halas of the Chicago Bears, had plastic helmets deemed legal for NFL play by 1949. Soon after that plastic helmets became the official helmets of the NFL, replacing their leather precursors.
Over time modifications to the original plastic helmets have been minimal. Four point chin straps became required for college athletics in 1976 after safety concerns were raised about the single straps. The 1980s and 1990s saw the adoption of stronger Polycarbonate alloy plastic helmets with steel alloy face masks. And in 2002, Riddell released a new, more spherical design for the helmet, which helps to reduce the likelihood of concussion, that quickly became the most widely used helmet in the NFL and spawned many copies.
Helmet producers and the scientists they employ are constantly investigating new materials and designs they hope will be the next big innovation in football helmet history.
About the Author
Jason Forthofer is the owner of Get Football Helmets where you can browse
revolution helmets
as well as football helmets for all 32 NFL teams.
Here are a list of other products on Authentic Signatures, come check these out:
