Updates to NFL Helmets

As many of you know, the NFL will have 3 teams with new or updated helmets in 2009.  I have completed the Gumball art for each of these - see attached photos.

I also completed some work on some older prototypes for teams like the Bengals and Falcons (helmets developed for use, but not used on the field for some reason), as well as some "error" helmets for teams like the Cowboys (helmets that were produced for some reason, but never actually worn - probably a production error of some type).

I also found photos of the East and West helmets worn in the final AFL All-star game in 1970, just before the merger.  This was the only time the AFL All-stars wore special helmets and I now have them in Gumball Size!

My next posts should be related to Baseball - I have completed the 2009 changes, the updates to my Negro Leagues set and am almost done with my Japanese (NPB) set.

Enjoy!

Outdoor Football Leagues

As I was researching and completing the various Indoor and Arena Leagues, I discovered more outdoor leagues.  I had already worked on the WFL and USFL as well as some TB NFL helmets.  Then I found the CFL, CFL USA (one of my favorite sets) and many, many more.  Here is a list of outdoor leagues, including the NFL, that I have completed:

National Football League (including Throwbacks)

American Football League (1960's)

Canadian Football League

CFL USA

World Football League

United States Football League

All American Football Conference

Asian-Pacific Football League

NFL Europe (Europa)

World League of American Football

Professional Spring Football League

Spring Football League

Regional Football League

XFL

All American Football League (2008)

Continental Football League (1960's)

Next on this list is the new United Football League in 2009.  I expect that I will do a full post on the NFL, since my work now includes more than just the current helmets.

Enjoy,

Bill

List of Indoor and Arena Football Leagues

While working on the Arena League throwbacks, I discovered many other Indoor Football leagues.  So, I began work on those as well.  Here is a list of Indoor leagues that are complete and in my collection

Arena Football League

Arena Football League 2 (AF2)

American Indoor Football League

American Indoor Football Association

American Professional Football League

Continental Indoor Football League

Great Lakes Indoor Football League

Intense Football League

United Indoor Football

Indoor Football League (2009)

Eastern Indoor Football League

Indoor Football League (2000)

National Indoor Football League

World Indoor Football League

Indoor Professional Football League

Professional Indoor Football League

Various Independent Teams

For the 2009 season, we have some new leagues and teams on the horizon.  I hope to have those completed by April or May of this year (after the seasons start).

Bill

Arena and Indoor Football

The next step in the evolution of my Gumball collection was the Arena Football League.  I went to my first game in 1988 and fell in love with this version of football.  I began collecting anything I could from this new league.  As time went on, my home town fielded a team and I was able to begin seeing many more teams and helmets.  After completing the USFL and WFL sets, I moved on to the current AFL and then to all the throwbacks.  That took some time and some serious research.  The AFL had many, many teams and lots of one-time use or pre-season only helmets.  Many teams also used more than one helmet in a season.  And, the New York City Hawks actually had a home and an away helmet!

From the AFL, I moved on to other Indoor leagues, such as the AF2, PIFL, IFL, NIFL and others (a complete list will be the topic of a future entry).  These leagues also proved to be a challenge.  However, the result is some of my favorite helmet sets.  I really like the old IFL and PIFL sets.  Here are photos of a portion of my Arena League set and one season of the NIFL.  Enjoy.

Bill