This is a rare photo of the original prototype for the 49ers helmet in the mid-90s. Glad this design got shot down.
(From the book Colors: Pro Football Uniforms of the Past and Present/Paul Lukas)
For some of you who aren't familiar with my infatuation with football uniforms, I think this might be something that we can all have a good laugh at.
Daily, I visit Uni Watch Blog; a blog dedicated to the "aesthetics of athletics". Basically, the site features past, present and future logos, uniforms and stadium designs among other things. The site owner, Paul Lukas (who also writes for ESPN.com's Page 2) recently got his hand on the book Pro Football Uniforms of the Past and Present. The book features the uniform history of many teams and it did point out two very interesting photos.
With all this "new uniform" talk for the team, it was interesting to see the proposed helmet (above picture) the 49ers were considering. Well, I'm just glad that this helmet never saw the field. This is the only time, I believe, that the 49ers ever displayed this helmet. The idea was scrapped and the 49ers went with these instead. Good call.
Also, it was really nice to see this image. Notice Rice's tongue on his shoe. Now that's getting a shoe customized!
What's interesting about this image is the number. Notice that the numbering is thicker than the following season's numbering. And that 50th anniversary patch is just a beauty, isn't it?
Thanks for checking in folks. I'll get to today's 49ers happenings in a bit.
Comments
That is just God Awful!!! If we pull anything like that this year I'm gonna drive my Arse right down to HQ and start Egging the place :)
The only good thing about that prototype helmet was that it had the white & red stripe and red facemask.I don't mind the gray facemask on the 80s helmets but it would look better in the team's actual colors of either red , gold , or even white.
The only thing that really needs to be changed on the 80s uniforms is the pants. The pants should be metallic gold just like the helmets. The pants should still have the red & white pattern but with thinner piping. As for the socks either striped or all red is okay.
It seems like the only complaint of some fans about the 80s uniforms are the pants. No one seems to complain about the helmets or jerseys though. So to sum it up all I want for 2009 is for the 80s uniforms to be brought back with the more modern looking shade of gold and the 94 uniforms back as the alternates/throwbacks.
I agree 100% with CJ
Who designed that thing? The 49er accounting department?
Yeah, the infamous "49ers" helmet design was announced right after the failed Three-peat (early 1991) when the 49ers narrowly lost to the NY Giants. Understandably Niners fans were in no mood to have their team's look drastically changed after seeing Joe Montana get injured (for basically the next two seasons) and Ronnie Lott and Roger Craig leave to sign with the LA Raiders.
Speaking of LA, I also read that the design for that helmet was designed by some marketing firm based in La-La Land, so obviously that wasn't gonna cut it with patriotic Northern Californians!
The second helmet was adopted in 1996 for the 50th anniversary and has been (or was) worn since then. It remians to be seen if the team will redesign the helmet / revert to the 1964-95 design.
Hmm, that "customization" on JR's cleats looks fake (too big), probably photshopped! Isn't there a NFL rule that says no (personalized) writing or lettering other than League-sponsored manufacturer's logos/names are allowed on uniforms or shoes? I believe it's been in effect since at least the late-80's because of Jim McMahon's shenanigans...
If I recall, the 1996 uniforms were in a state of flux regarding the numerals for that first season. Some games they had the 1994-style numerals ("1", "2", "4" and "7" were sans-serif), other games they had the thicker numerals, before they eventually standardized to the normal block numerals in 1997. That second Rice pic is actually more likely from 1998 (at the earliest) since that was the first season the shiny gold pants were worn.
*END OF RANT*
Come to think of it, I do think that JR pic of him in the gold pants is from the 1998 season. However, the picture of his shoe tongue is legit, no photoshop. The pictures from the book are actual shots from the games.
It is an interesting bit of uniform stuff.
I think the 49ers shud go old school this year. No logos, just the gold helmet. One up the steelers who only have one logo on their helmets. Send the message to the rest of the teams that the 49ers aren't fancy. They're just going to kick the c*** out of everybody.
"WHO" were the "IDIOT"S that had made this helmet??? And you would think that because they attained some type of business degree, that they would eventuually make things that looked intelligent or had quality. I had nore brains never thinking about something so as stupid as this sorry-looking helemet logo.
But, I love the 49ERS!!! There is or are some
"strong indicators" that the 49ERS will take the Super Bowl this year and win it! It is almost like a cycle in Super Bowls. The Steelers already won their sixth Super Bowl.
Who proceeded to win their fourth Super Bowl after the Steelers had won their fourth?
The 49ERS. So that could be very likely this year and the uniforms will be very complimentary. During the 49ERS Super Bowls during the eighties, why was it that the 49ERS
wore "white"jerseys playing indoors and "Scarlet" playing outdoors? Ever noticed that when Joe Montana was throwing a pass, he would always be making a left-handed three-fingured pose? Yes sir, I love the SCARLET and
49ER Gold. You know, when they altered their
uniforms back in 1996, that just didn't cut it at all. Look what Montana did in a decade and look at what Steve Young did i his decade.
My birthday also falls on the same day and the same month as Joe Montana's...June 11.
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