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Noted graphic designer Ken Carbone used his space at Fast Company earlier this week to address the National Football League's ugliest helmets, of which there are plenty. (Helloooooo, Tampa Bay!) As someone with an amateur hobby of monitoring professional and major collegiate sports uniforms -- for instance: have you seen these new Nike college football unis, apparently left to us from a race of super-intelligent hypergalactic beings? -- this editor believes Carbone hit a lot of the right notes. The best helmets in the NFL do belong to teams which have a natural symmetry in the logo (Eagles, Rams, Vikings), or teams who stick with classic, clean insignias and color schemes (Cowboys, Bengals, Browns -- and although Carbone forgot them, the Packers).
You'll notice that the local football team did not make the cut of pretty designs. That's because the Redskins helmet logo -- although certainly possessing an iconic prestige -- is kind of ugly, even for those who don't find it culturally insensitive. For a team like the Redskins who have such classic uniforms and an awesome color palette (burgundy, gold and white is hard to beat), the helmet is a little bit dated.
All of this, I can agree with. But as far as Carbone's feather-tastic "upgrade" (see above) goes, well, that's another story. Some have called it "either beautiful or hideous." (Feel free to mark me down for the latter camp.) What makes this design, unbalanced and far too busy for such a classic uniform set, an improvement over this design, which the Skins have recently worn as a throwback for anniversaries?
But what does the public think? Is Carbone on the right track or way off base? Let us know below and in the comments.
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a) I stopped paying attention to him the second I read him saying the Bengals have the best helmet design. The Bengals and the Chargers have the worst helmet designs in the NFL. Personally, I prefer the simplest helmets: Green Bay, Cleveland, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Lions.
b) Before the Redskins worry about changing the helmet design, they need to change the team name, period.
c) Is this the first reference to the Redskins in what, like two or three weeks? You don't even mention the game results in your sports roundups. I cannot believe how DCist has decided to abandon Dan Snyder coverage. With all the interesting things going on around FedEx and to the fans, and not a chirp from DCist in weeks about it. Suspicious.
Also, what the eff was up with his New England helmet redesign?! Good God. It looked like what you would get if the Bengals and Captain America were lovers and had a helmet baby.
Win.
Aaron Morrissey, thank you for writing clear, comprehensible posts. We're glad you're here on the weekends.
Won't they look like really big eyebrows?
eh, could be worse. i like it.
Hey - I *like* the Bucs logo (although I miss Bucco Bruce in all his orange fierceness.) The Bucs know they suck, but at least their owner isn't the epitome of evil.
"My Team" (based on helmet design) is the Seattle Seahawks.
+100!
Herostratus, did you ever see Buck Rogers in the 25th Century? Remember his bird-man sidekick from the later seasons? Yes, that helmet looks like THAT GUY.
IMGoph, no it couldn't. Or rather, it could if it was that same guy's design for the Patriots helmet. Wow.
Bethesdaist, the Bucs logo has never bothered me either.
Over the River, now that you mention it, that Totem Hawk helmet logo is pretty damned awesome. I'm taking Seattle for my uniform design fantasy team.
Sweet; thanks GM!
guesty: c'mon, they could have made the feathers more "streamlined"—in other words, more cartoony. i think that would have been worse than this.
The Skins and the Bucs helmets are cool, but the Evil Knievel Pats helmet is just gross.
Seems pointless to redesign for a name that's going to be changed soon.
The racist slur cannot long last.
Tell that to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
I'm reminded of the Onion headline, "Georgia Adds Swastika, Middle Finger to State Flag."
Bring back the burgundy helmet with the arrowhead/feather design.
Yeah, those were cool helmets. I even liked the older ones with the "R" on them.
No matter how poorly the Redskins play, at least with Carbone's redesign they will always look faaaAAAbulous!
I'm sorry, those feathers look like Clinton Portis ran into a birdshit headwind.
Good call, Virginia is for Losers. Either the spearhead & feather or the old yellow helmet with the block 'R'. Start simple and then update it.
Bengals do have sweet helmets, but Green Bay and Pitt are still the best