Alexei Volkov
The plastic football helmet was invented in 1940 by John T. Riddell and his son John T. Riddell Jr. of the John T. Riddell Company in Chicago. However, the story of the football helmet goes back much further. In 1893, U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman Joseph M. Reeves created a protective moleskin cap to play in the Army-Navy Game after being warned that another blow to the head could be fatal. This was followed by George Rose Barclay's headgear in 1896, which featured straps and earpieces for protection. The early 20th century saw the rise of leather helmets, which gradually became more accepted and widely used in the 1920s. However, it wasn't until 1939 that college football rules mandated the use of helmets, with the NFL following suit in 1943.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Invention | 1940 |
| Inventor | John T. Riddell and his son John T. Riddell Jr. |
| Inventor's Company | John T. Riddell Company |
| Inventor's Company Location | Chicago |
| Inventor's Company Specialty | Sporting Goods |
| Helmet Properties | Single molded shell, stronger, lighter, longer-lasting, did not rot when damp, with colours baked into the plastic |
| Additional Inventions by the Riddell Company | First chin strap to rest on the chin, first plastic face mask |
| Plastic Helmet Shortcomings | Brittle when hit head-on, the bar hole drilled for the face mask tended to pop loose |
| Plastic Helmet Design Changes | Changed to a teardrop shape to allow blows to slide to the side |
| Plastic Helmet Ban | In 1948, the NFL banned the plastic helmet due to safety concerns, but the ban was lifted in 1949 |
| Plastic Helmet Universal Adoption | By 1950, the plastic helmet was universally adopted in the NFL |
| Leather Helmet Manufacturers | Rawlings, Spalding, MacGregor |
| Earliest Football Helmet | Resembled an aviator's cap, made of soft leather with ear flaps and light padding on the inside |
| First Football Helmet Inventor | Credited to George "Rose" Barclay, a halfback at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, in 1888 or 1896 |
| First Football Helmet Use | Commissioned by Admiral Joseph Mason Reeve for the 1893 Army-Navy Game |
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What You'll Learn
- John T. Riddell and his son invented the first plastic football helmet in 1940
- Plastic helmets were banned by the NFL in 1948, but the ban was lifted in 1949
- Plastic helmets were safer than leather helmets but were hard to obtain during WWII
- Leather helmets were first worn in the 1920s and widely used until the 1930s
- The first football helmet was designed by Admiral Joseph Mason Reeve in 1893
John T. Riddell and his son invented the first plastic football helmet in 1940
The game of football has evolved significantly over the years, with safety innovations being announced with increasing frequency. One of the most significant advancements in the history of football was the invention of the plastic football helmet, which replaced the earlier leather helmets.
John T. Riddell and his son, John T. Riddell Jr., of the John T. Riddell Company in Chicago, are credited with inventing the first plastic football helmet in 1940. The Riddell Company was a sporting goods provider, and their innovation in using plastic for football helmets was groundbreaking. This new material offered several advantages over leather, as it was stronger, lighter, and more durable. It did not rot when damp, and the colours could be baked into the plastic, ensuring longer-lasting paint jobs.
The Riddells' plastic helmet featured a unique design with an inner liner suspension system that absorbed and better distributed impact. This innovation addressed the limitations of leather helmets, which lacked sufficient protection and were prone to rotting when wet. The Riddells' invention was a significant step forward in improving player safety and comfort.
However, the Riddell plastic helmet also faced some challenges. One issue was the problem of brittleness when hit head-on, and the bar hole drilled for the face mask tended to pop loose. To address this, Riddell modified the design from a flat top to a teardrop shape, allowing blows to slide to one side rather than being met head-on. Despite these challenges, the Riddell plastic helmet marked a significant milestone in the evolution of football equipment, paving the way for further innovations in player safety and protection.
It is worth noting that before the invention of the plastic football helmet, football players often grew their hair long, believing it would protect their heads. The transition from leather to plastic helmets represented a significant advancement in the sport, and the Riddell Company played a pivotal role in this transformation.
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Plastic helmets were banned by the NFL in 1948, but the ban was lifted in 1949
The first plastic football helmet was invented and patented by John T. Riddell and his son John T. Riddell Jr. in 1940. Their company, the John T. Riddell Company in Chicago, was a sporting goods provider. The Riddell helmet featured a single moulded shell that was stronger, lighter, and longer-lasting than leather helmets. It also included a chin strap and a plastic face mask. However, the plastic helmets had some issues. They were brittle when hit head-on, and the bar hole drilled for the face mask would often pop loose.
Despite these problems, plastic helmets offered advantages over leather helmets. Plastic held its shape better during collisions, and allowed for more padding, improving both head protection and comfort. Recognising these benefits, the NFL initially allowed the use of either plastic or leather helmets. However, in 1948, the league outlawed the use of plastic helmets, citing concerns about the hard-plastic material posing an injury risk to players.
This decision was short-lived, as the ban was lifted just one year later in 1949. The reversal occurred due to pressure from teams who believed that the benefits of plastic helmets outweighed the risks. By 1950, plastic helmets had become universal in the NFL, marking a shift away from leather helmets. This transition reflected the ongoing evolution of football equipment towards enhanced safety and performance.
The adoption of plastic helmets in the NFL was a significant step in the evolution of football gear. It demonstrated the league's commitment to player safety and comfort by leveraging technological advancements. Over time, further improvements were made to helmet design, such as the development of stronger and more impact-absorbent materials, as well as the refinement of face masks and chin straps. Today, the ongoing innovation in football headgear continues to prioritise player protection and performance, building upon the foundation laid by the pioneering adoption of plastic helmets in the late 1940s.
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Plastic helmets were safer than leather helmets but were hard to obtain during WWII
The plastic football helmet was invented in 1940 by John T. Riddell and his son John T. Riddell Jr., of the John T. Riddell Company in Chicago. The Riddell helmet featured a single-moulded shell that was stronger, lighter, and longer-lasting than leather helmets. It also included a chin strap anchored on the chin, which was an improvement on the leather helmet's strap that looped under the jaw. The plastic shell was also transparent, and colours could be baked into the plastic, improving the longevity of the paint job.
However, despite the advantages of plastic helmets, they were difficult to obtain during World War II due to restrictions on the supply of plastics. This scarcity of resources led Riddell to shift its focus to supplying helmets for the U.S. military, which licensed the suspension system and chin strap design for the M1 helmets used by paratroopers during the war. The plastic helmets used by paratroopers were also transparent, and often unpainted or painted olive drab to match the military colour scheme.
The shortage of plastic during the war meant that football players continued to use leather helmets, which were more susceptible to rot when damp. Leather helmets also lacked the tear-drop shape of the later plastic helmets, which allowed blows to slide to one side rather than being met head-on. As a result, plastic helmets were seen as a safer option and resumed production after the war, although they continued to face issues with shattering due to problems with the plastic compound.
The development of the plastic football helmet was a significant innovation, and Riddell's design played a crucial role in both sports and military applications during World War II, despite the challenges of limited plastic supplies during that time.
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Leather helmets were first worn in the 1920s and widely used until the 1930s
The evolution of the football helmet has come a long way since the early days of the sport. In the late 19th century, football players would often grow their hair long, believing that it would protect their heads. The earliest known football helmet was designed in 1893 or 1896 by U.S. Naval Academy Midshipman Joseph M. Reeves, also known as the "Father of Carrier Aviation". He had a protective mole skin cap made by a local shoemaker/blacksmith to shield his skull after being warned by a Navy doctor that he risked death from another kick to the head. This headgear was known as a “head harness” and featured three thick leather straps that formed a snug fit around the head.
By the early 1900s, soft leather skull caps began to emerge as optional headgear, resembling modern-day rugby headgear. In 1904, there were 18 reported football-related deaths across the nation due to skull fractures, highlighting the need for improved safety measures. As a result, new rules were implemented, and the helmet design evolved. The second-generation helmets featured a hardened exterior, ventilation, padding, and ear holes, gradually gaining acceptance.
In the 1920s, hardened leather helmets made their debut, marking a slight improvement in protection. These leather helmets were widely used until the 1930s, when advancements in helmet technology took place. During this decade, face masks began to be incorporated into helmet designs, thanks to the innovation of Vern McMillan, a sporting goods store owner in Terre Haute, Indiana. He introduced a rubber-covered wire mask affixed to the front of a leather helmet, enhancing facial protection for players.
The transition from leather to plastic helmets occurred in the 1940s, with the invention of the first plastic football helmet by John T. Riddell and his son, John T. Riddell Jr., from the John T. Riddell Company in Chicago. This new design offered several advantages over leather helmets, including increased strength, lighter weight, and improved durability, as it did not rot when damp. Additionally, the Riddells developed the first chin strap that rested on the chin rather than the neck, further enhancing the overall protection of the players.
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The first football helmet was designed by Admiral Joseph Mason Reeve in 1893
The first football helmet was designed by Admiral Joseph Mason Reeve and debuted in the 1893 Army-Navy Game. Having been warned that he risked "instant insanity" or death if he received another blow to the head, Admiral Reeve commissioned a shoemaker to create a moleskin hat with ear flaps to protect his skull. This design was later modified by a blacksmith into a crude leather helmet.
Before the invention of the football helmet, players grew their hair long, believing it would protect their heads. The first football headgear is dated to 1896, when George "Rose" Barclay, a halfback at Lafayette College in Easton, Pennsylvania, began using straps and earpieces to protect his ears. In 1896, Barclay also designed a head harness, which consisted of three thick leather straps that formed a close fit around the head.
The first plastic football helmet was invented in 1940 by John T. Riddell and his son, John T. Riddell Jr., of the John T. Riddell Company in Chicago. The single-molded shell was stronger, lighter, and longer-lasting than leather, which would rot when damp. Riddell's design also included the first chin strap that rested on the chin, as well as the first plastic face mask. However, the plastic helmets were brittle when hit head-on, and the bar hole drilled for the face mask tended to pop loose.
Due to these issues, the NFL banned plastic helmets in 1948, considering the hard-plastic material an injury risk. However, the ban was lifted just a year later, and by 1950, plastic helmets had become universal in the league.
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Frequently asked questions
The plastic football helmet was invented and patented by John T. Riddell and his son John T. Riddell Jr. in 1940.
The plastic football helmet featured a single moulded shell that was stronger, lighter, and longer-lasting than leather. It also included a chin strap and, later, a plastic face mask.
Plastic football helmets were invented because they were safer than leather helmets, which could rot when damp and did not hold their shape in collisions.
Before plastic helmets were introduced, football helmets were made of leather and resembled early aviator caps or skullcaps. Over time, they evolved to include more padding and flaps, ear holes, and suspension systems to absorb impact.
