It’s a season of throwbacks, and the Atlanta Falcons are doing their part. They decided to wear their red helmets for three games in 2023.
Atlanta wore them once in 2022, but now they’re wearing them even more, thanks to their popularity. They’ll be wearing them for the third time this year in Week 12 against the New Orleans Saints.
Why are they wearing the red helmets?
Why Are the Falcons Wearing Red Helmets?
The Falcons red helmet is a near replica of what the Falcons wore from 1966 to 1969. The helmet features a grey facemask, but it also has three different colored stripes going down the middle: white, black, and gold. The Falcons wore their red helmets from 1966 to 1989 before switching to a black helmet in 1990.
MORE: Atlanta Falcons Depth Chart
According to the Falcons, the helmet’s color scheme was designed to represent the two major colleges in the state: Georgia Tech (white and gold) and the University of Georgia (red and black).
The team brought back red helmets twice a season from 2009 to 2012, but due to a one-helmet rule, they were unable to wear them for the following decade. The NFL rescinded the rule in 2021, sparking the return.
The one-helmet rule was initially instated in an attempt to help player safety. It was believed a worn-in helmet was a safer option than brand-new helmets. This was revised, allowing teams to use an alternate helmet paired with alternate, classic, and/or color rush uniforms.
The Return of Red pic.twitter.com/qN8yWWeWm0
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) July 20, 2023
The one time they wore them in 2022 came against the San Francisco 49ers, where they also rolled out their black 1966 throwback uniform. The Falcons won in major upset fashion, 28-14.
In 2023, they decided to wear the red helmets in Week 2 against the Packers, Week 6 against the Commanders, and then the Week 12 game against the Saints. They are 1-1 wearing them this season.
The red helmets are very popular amongst fans and seem to be a part of the plan … as long as no rules are changed. The Falcons need to beat the Saints in Week 12 to keep their playoff hopes alive, as they sit at 4-6 on the season.
Want to predict the rest of the 2023 season with our FREE NFL Playoff Predictor? Looking for the most up-to-date NFL standings? What about a breakdown of team depth charts or the NFL schedule? Pro Football Network has you covered with that and more!
