The Los Angeles Chargers recently announced a collaboration with Crenshaw City Skate Club that merges their brand with skateboarding culture through limited-edition hoodies, t-shirts and skate decks.
In doing so, however, the Chargers may have accidentally revealed their plans to unveil a navy blue alternate helmet – which would be worn with their navy blue Color Rush uniforms – ahead of next season.
The Chargers have paired their navy blue Color Rush uniforms, which feature a single-color lightning bolt on the shoulders and pants, with their standard white helmets since their current uniform design was unveiled in 2020.
They simply swap the powder blue and gold lightning bolt decals, powder blue numbers and gold facemasks for navy blue and gold lightning bolt decals, navy blue numbers and navy blue facemasks to complete the look.
The reason for this is the NFL’s one-helmet rule, though the league has since relaxed that rule, allowing teams to introduce a second or third shell to their closet. The Chargers are among a handful of teams that have not yet taken advantage it.
But if the promotional photos that were shared on social media by the Chargers and the skate club are any indication, they could soon have a navy blue helmet with single-color lightning bolt, gold numbers and navy blue facemask at their disposal.
That said, a closer inspection of the photoshoot suggests the navy blue helmet is nothing more than a display piece from the Chargers’ facility, as it is a Riddell Speed with interior padding that is consistent with full-size collectible helmets.
There’s also the presence of a large white warning sticker on the back, which typically states, “This replica helmet is for display only. It is not designed or intended for use as a protective helmet. Do not wear this helmet.” You can also see the sticker on the inside.
Compare those features to the white helmet, which is an authentic Vicis Zero2 and includes other details such as the Chargers’ front and back bumpers, as well as the American flag, NFL shield and a warning label that lists the potential dangers of playing football.
Now, that’s not to say the Chargers won’t eventually unveil a navy blue alternate helmet. After all, they scrapped their royal blue Color Rush uniforms this season – and, if you’re going to add another helmet, you might as well maximize the amount of times it can be worn each season.
But given the information we shared above, it would be a stretch to constitute this as a leak at this time. Of course, we’ll keep you posted anything changes, seeing as we’ve been on top of the alternate and throwback helmet news for the last two seasons.
Photos courtesy of @crenshawskateclub on Instagram.