Falcons uniform watch: NFL considering change to one helmet rule

In January I provided an update on what we knew about the Atlanta Falcons soon-to-be new uniforms, so I’m back to share what we have learned since then. As teams like the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Los Angeles Rams have had their respective uniforms and logos leak, the Falcons have remarkably remained secretive.

Since the Falcons announced they would be getting new uniforms months ago, we haven’t learned a whole lot into the specifics of what they will look like and if there will be any logo updates. According to Joe Reedy of Associated Press Sports, the Falcons will only have changes to their uniforms.

With that, there are some who still speculate to minor changes to the logo but that will be determined. Matt Tabeek of the Atlanta Falcons website spoke with team owner Arthur Blank and asked him what he thought about the new uniforms, which he has obviously seen.

“Well it’s the first time in 17 years that we’re changing them which is remarkable to me because I didn’t realize it was quite that long. But I did remember when we first bought the team a couple years later that we did change it – and that was a great change at that time,” Blank said. “I think that this look that fans will feel, experience and see and hopefully wear is one that’s more in keeping with a contemporary look and feel that our fans are looking for – a little more flair. I think the level combinations is one of the things that struck me about the tops and bottoms, the way they could be combined and put together provides a lot of options. The players had a lot of input in the uniforms; you know, they have to wear them. Beyond that, they’re young and they’re hip and they get it. They want to wear something that looks good on them. I think the uniforms will good on them and even better on our fans.”

Another high-ranking individual in the Falcons organization who has seen them, and been vocal about it is Brett Jewkes the AMB Group/AMBSE SVP/CCO.

If you’ve picked up on anything mentioned by Blank and Jewkes, it’s that the new uniforms will definitely have combinations to them. With the exception of the throwback and Color Rush uniforms, the Falcons haven’t had much of a uniform combination since they did away with the black tops/bottoms in 2009.

Lastly, some news that will not only impact the Falcons but also the rest of the league, the NFL is apparently considering scrapping the one-shell rule. Since 2013, the NFL has had a rule in place which limits teams to using one helmet shell a season — which prevents teams like the Falcons who have a black shell from using a red shell for throwbacks.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach Bruce Arians recently appeared on The Dan Patrick Show where he discussed the Buccaneers’ new uniforms, who are also updating their look this offseason. Arians mentioned that the popular creamsicle uniforms could be returning in 2021 for the Buccaneers, because the NFL was ditching the one shell rule next year. This certainly raised some eyebrows, as the rule has been widely unpopular since going into affect. To clarify, the folks at ProFootballTalk reached out to the league for comment.

“There will be no change for the 2020 season,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy told ProFootballTalk. “There are ongoing discussions for a potential change for the 2021 season, but no decisions have been made.”

So as we’re still unsure what color the Falcons new helmets will be, it may not matter come 2021 as they can (hopefully) change their helmet color. That about does it for now, make sure to follow @TheFalcoholic and @EvanBirchfield on Twitter for the latest uniform updates going forward. The team is expected to reveal the new look prior to the 2020 NFL Draft in April.