For decades, helmets were plain, functional gear. That changed in 1948 with , a halfback for the Los Angeles Rams who also happened to be an art student.
: These horns were the first team logos in professional football. When games were broadcast on black-and-white television, the yellow horns didn't show up well, leading the team to temporarily switch them to white for better visibility. Modern Safety & Oddities nfl helmet
The history of the NFL helmet is a century-long evolution from simple "head harnesses" meant to prevent ear injuries to high-tech, computer-modeled shells designed for life-saving protection. The Pioneer's Solution (1893) For decades, helmets were plain, functional gear
: Gehrke painted yellow Ram horns on his blue leather helmet as a joke, but his coach and owner loved it so much they had him paint the entire team's gear by hand. When games were broadcast on black-and-white television, the