Back when I played football in highschool, if you missed the first week of practice for whatever reason, you’d end up with equiptment leftovers that had about enough chance of protecting you as wrapping yourself in a layer of bubble wrap. Actually – I’d probably take my chances with the bubble wrap in retrospect. Football helmets shouldn’t bend should they? Hard to believe that players would wear things like the picture below to try and protect their melons while swarming each other for a ball.
Even ancient galdiators that wiped their butts with leaves knew enough not to go into battle with a piece of leather strapped to their heads and opted for good old fashioned metal to get the job done.
Of course with progess and modern times comes modern materials which ushers in a whole new era of advancements in equipment technology that culminates into the ultimate helmet for the masses. I’d never dream of facing any given Sunday without my trusty helmet.
Click the zesty salsa above to go to a website that offers a histroical perspective on every pro football helmet design from the golden age through to modern times including NFL, CFL, XFL, World Football League and more ! Quite the impressive collection.