The NFL has modified a uniform policy to allow for a third helmet design for teams starting in 2025.
Back in 2022, the NFL allowed teams to have alternate helmet designs after a decade of not allowing teams to do so.
The Cincinnati Bengals immediately took advantage, adding in the white helmets to go with their all-white uniforms.
Now, the NFL has revised the policy even more, allowing for a third helmet design. For teams going through the uniform change process this offseason, they can add a third helmet design for 2024, and for the rest of the teams, which includes the Bengals, they can add it in 2025.
The NFL informed clubs today it has revised the uniform policy to allow teams a third helmet design, per source.
This expansion was offered to the teams that were going through the re-design process for the 2024 season and is now open to all clubs for the 2025 season. pic.twitter.com/8pXHLtZqjm
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) April 10, 2024
This leaves the Bengals with some options, as they already have their standard orange helmets and added in the white helmet to go with their all-white uniforms, so it is not clear what they could do next.
It would be cool to see some throwback-style uniforms, but according to this tweet from Joe Goodberry, it seems likely that the Bengals would not be allowed to use a throwback helmet as they currently do not have a set of throwback uniforms.
Sorry, it can't be the throwback helmet.
The rule states:
“…the helmet colors and designs must be historically compatible.”And the Bengals don't currently have a slot for a throwback uniform.
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) April 10, 2024
This leaves the Bengals options open, and they could do something cool, like an inverted helmet, which is black with orange stripes, which would look very good with their black uniforms.
What would you like to see as the Bengals’ third helmet?
