In the early 90s, when the Bills were the unquestioned kings of the AFC, it was an unmitigated joy to see their perfect red-inferno helmets every Sunday. It wasn’t enough that Jim Kelly, Bruce Smith, Thurman Thomas, and Andre Reed were better than everyone else — they looked fantastic, too.
Unfortunately, Buffalo stopped wearing those pristine red metal caps during the 2002 season. I have no way to confirm this, but it’s no coincidence the Bills were a cellar dweller for much of the time since. Look terrible, and play even worse. To clarify: I mean complete disrespect to the current white helmets they don most of the time now. I don’t blink when they lose games in those abominations.
Friends, I have the best news, courtesy of everyone’s favorite cyborg Josh Allen: Buffalo’s classic red helmets are back! (For now).
What's better than @JoshAllenQB?
Josh Allen in a red helmet. 😍 #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/o73gvdbPUl
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) August 5, 2022
Dear God. They are ah-may-zing. Why would the Bills ever walk away from these gifts to football? It’s just this esteemed writer’s opinion, but those are the best alternate helmets any NFL team has revealed this summer. It’s not even close. You won’t go wrong with a classic.
Here’s the part where I enter with bad news: The Bills will not wear the NFL’s best helmets this year. This stunt was a cruel ruse clearly only designed to tease and then break the heart of faithful sartorialists like myself.
Disclaimer: Josh Allen tricked everyone (including the social media admin) and we're sticking with the white helmets this season.
Please direct all feedback to your favorite QB, @JoshAllenQB. 😂 #BillsMafia pic.twitter.com/PJhDUVYwt5
— Buffalo Bills (@BuffaloBills) August 5, 2022
Oh, come on! The Bills might be Super Bowl 57 favorites, but you’re tempting fate on that front by pulling out the rug like this. Sigh.
In their defense, the Bills can’t go to their red alternates yet (which, again, should be on a full-time basis).
According to WGR550’s Sal Capaccio, NFL rules state that the Buffalo can’t use the red helmet because 1) It clashes with their red color rush jersey, and 2) the helmet can’t pair with their throwbacks because those use standing buffalo while the modern buffaloes charge full steam ahead. And yes, there is no redesign coming — at least during the 2022 season. (Note: Alternate NFL helmets must be paired with throwback or color rush uniforms. No in-between.)
Now that’s just silly. The league would deliberately let the Bills look worse simply because they don’t have the proper uniform? Update them now! What an unforced fashion faux pas. I’m sorry, but this is the first nail in the coffin in Buffalo’s 2022 season. Just when you thought they were about to own the AFC again, like in the old days. Too bad.
Don’t mind me; I’m starting the petition to immediately let the Bills look fly in red helmets. Their Super Bowl hopes might depend on it.
The NFL world loved seeing the return of the Bills' red helmet
These are crazy https://t.co/LLX556qv0X
— SB_Mello5 (@GatewoodMello) August 5, 2022
These are HARD https://t.co/7rXlPEOSjR
— 🎰 (@MAXCHRlSTIE) August 5, 2022
👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀
Need the 90’s striping on these though. https://t.co/DGtX1DTsHg
— Buffalo Bills Uniform Tracker (@BillsUniTracker) August 5, 2022
Them 🔥 https://t.co/uq98YxdHIK
— 🎰 (@chief_cjack) August 5, 2022
Oh snap! https://t.co/kCSyzyhHGk
— Goodberry (@JoeGoodberry) August 5, 2022
This combo ?! Red helmet red jersey white pants red socks white shoes !?!? SIGN ME UP FOR THIS FOREVER #billsmafia https://t.co/YepxGYJPVT
— Lil Joe🗯 (@JoeyCana) August 5, 2022
Bills by 7.16 Billion https://t.co/7dUiOlzOtt
— JJ (@billsmetsisles) August 5, 2022
So fire https://t.co/CgO6OxSnGs
— bert beveridge (@cultofcolt) August 5, 2022
I know that’s right 🔥 https://t.co/r7Y4CI3jkj
— Hales (@haleylynnnorton) August 5, 2022
Got me hyped for football season 😍 https://t.co/4Fm8wE8vW5
— katie🌸 (@Katie_Falls) August 5, 2022
K-Gunn vibes with those Bills red helmets https://t.co/6CuTSdZvmk pic.twitter.com/OmaewzMHax
— WBG84 (@WBG84) August 5, 2022
That’s awesome! https://t.co/jfRu5z2jti
— Jace Meabon (@JaceMeabon) August 5, 2022
OH. MY. SWEET. LORD. https://t.co/2kXQovgejf pic.twitter.com/1FyXFfrYVq
— 🥑 (@avocado_erflein) August 5, 2022
Getting married this month and Josh Allen in a visor and new red helmet.
Peak existence. https://t.co/bIHJensq1g
— Chris Owen (@FiddleSabre) August 5, 2022
Later, no one appreciated the Bills' cruel tease
Damn. Bubble Bursted. #GoBills https://t.co/y9ejpXlxu1
— kurect🇺🇸 (@KRich716) August 5, 2022
This is cruel https://t.co/XpIE31wB1a
— Mariah (@MariahHowe) August 5, 2022
All time troll job. https://t.co/Bfy9LVncsL
— T.J. Gaines (@ItsTJGaines) August 5, 2022
@JoshAllenQB hey man https://t.co/PZyNunZGe1 pic.twitter.com/dnhcCr4Xwe
— Head Ball Coach B1G Ben 🦬 (@Big10Benjamin) August 5, 2022
It looks so good tho 😞 https://t.co/tma9ZMWBjC
— Isaiah (@zaythegeek) August 5, 2022
Cowards https://t.co/zHR1zNVCr2
— Devin Fry (@FryTheSportsGuy) August 5, 2022
COME ON https://t.co/WYKdbbkSnX
— reo☠️ (@reoisrad) August 5, 2022
Someone at NFL HQ in charge of enforcing helmet designs just had a heart attack. https://t.co/IoW1z5FrgL
— Bill Kuchman (@billkuchman) August 5, 2022
Why @JoshAllenQB … WHY? 🤣🥺🥲 https://t.co/ncA6hHYGII pic.twitter.com/bFDHQzk2kk
— Molly O'Connor (@mollyohhx2) August 5, 2022
