The Los Angeles Chargers are playing the Baltimore Ravens this evening during Monday Night Football, and for this prime time matchup, they’ll be wearing their all-navy alternates with their white helmets, which they modify with navy blue/gold bolt decals, navy helmet numbers and navy cages. They’ve been wearing this alternate at least once a season since 2020, when their current uniform set was introduced.
When that uniform was introduced, all NFL teams were limited to one helmet color, due to the (then) single shell rule. As such, the team customized their white shells to pair with their all-royal and all-navy alternates (they discontinued the all-royal look this year). So, while the team only has one shell color, in effect, they have three different helmets.
Once the one shell rule was rescinded for the 2022 season, several teams introduced alternate color shells, which was followed by several more teams last year. 2024 has given us a plethora of second (and even third) color helmets — such that well more than half of the NFL teams have at least two different shell colors. Perhaps surprisingly, the Chargers have stuck to their white shells this entire time, but is that about to change for 2025 and beyond?
The team may have dropped its strongest hint that a new helmet color is on the way this week. In a promotional video for their collaboration with the Crenshaw City Skate Club, several players were spotted holding blue helmets which were clearly modified to work with the all-navy uniform. Several Twitter-X users noticed…
THIS IS FROM THE @CSC90008 PAGE??? THE CHARGERS SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM CROPPED OUT THE HELMET HELLO?? https://t.co/ZYVcEdwBNR pic.twitter.com/HcRIItqctz
— anthony (@herbertshypeman) November 21, 2024
DID WE NOT NOTICE THE HELMET IN THE CORNER!!!!! ️️️️ pic.twitter.com/YX6PjbC0dZ
— World Series Champion Dalilah (@dali_G7) November 21, 2024
Indeed, if we dig a little deeper into the “CSC x Los Angeles Chargers” collaboration, several shots of the potential new helmet surfaced.
To be clear, the Chargers collaboration with CSC is one designed to sell merch and fan gear, and the navy helmet should in no way be construed to a “leak” of a potential new helmet. While timed to coincide with the team’s MNF appearance in their navy uniforms, the presence of a custom helmet could be just a coincidence. But could it portend an alternate helmet for next season?
Ever since the Chargers introduced their modern/retro uniforms in 2020, there has been speculation that the team would add a second shell to match either (or both) of the Chargers alternate uniforms; with the team jettisoning the all-royal alternate this season, the all-navy uniform now would be the most likely candidate to pair with an alternate helmet.
The helmet shown in the CSC collaboration stills would pair perfectly with the navy outfit. It features the navy colored shell, along with gold/royal bolt decals, and gold TV numbers. Could that be a new alternate?
I’ve seen a few mockups of the Chargers wearing a navy helmet. In those, the TV numbers have always been rendered in white, not gold.
In those concepts, the helmet numbers match the white jersey numbers. I’ve also seen the helmet (and jersey) featuring white bolts outlined in navy/gold, which would be more of a throwback look to a previous uniform.
In every single concept, the facemask remains navy (as it did in the CSC photos). If the Chargers were to introduce a navy helmet, might it look better with a gold cage?
Of course, none of this means the Chargers have any intention of introducing a new helmet next season, so we should take these “leaks” with a grain of salt. But it also doesn’t mean a navy alternate helmet isn’t out of the question either.
What do you think? With most teams now having two helmets due to the one-shell rule being revoked, is it time for the Chargers to add one to pair with the navy color rush uniform? Despite the decal swap, I’ve never liked the white helmet paired with the mono-navy. With the uniform numbers being the only white element, the white helmets have always looked out of place.
Adding a new navy shell would immensely improve that look, so keeping the white to a minimum (white TVs) or even elmininating it (CSC “leak”) seems like the most logical way to go. Altering the uniforms to add white bolts (with navy outline) feels like the least likely option — even if it makes those uniforms more fauxback-y — and it would lock the Chargers into keeping the all-navy alternate for another five seasons.
Your thoughts?
I hate that this will invariably be used to create another gross mono-blue leotard look.
They should wear this look against an opponent that would have better contrast than the Ravens. Hopefully the Ravens will be white from below the head.
well the ravens are going white/white.. black helmets of course though
The navy helmet makes this alternate jersey work. They always looked like a blue pen with a white cap with the white helmet. I think it’s happening tonight, and the world is better for it.
It’s not happening tonight. Players have to practice with alternate helmets the week leading up to a game, which the Chargers have not done.
This is great. The white helmet is good for the white and powder blue jerseys, but it looks terrible with the navy.
Agree fully wth thee, Charlie. But I would prefer a white lid with navy and gold should they ever think of donning white pants with a navy/gold bolt stripe to go with the navy jersey.
The issue is not the white helmet with the navy uniform; it’s the navy uniform regardless of the helmet. The switch back to powder blue was a massive upgrade over the previous navy uniform, and this reversion is all bad.
Go Kent State!!!!!
They need to wear this tonight and shock everyone as it would be a great kept secret. I’ve wondered why they’ve not gone to a navy helmet, since ya know, they can now. White bolts/gold outline on helmet, shoulder and pants with yellow socks would look good.
If that were the case, I think photos of them practicing in them would’ve leaked. Of course, if they do manage to pull that off in this age of leaks on social media, great job outta’ them.
No way do they have the navy helmet for tonight’s game.
If anything, it’s *possible* they’re teasing one for next season. If they did have a new helmet for this season, we’d have known about it. Even if the team wanted to “keep it a surprise,” there are procedures they need to go through with the league in order to introduce a new helmet, and there’s no way to keep that part quiet.
Show me a faux-Air Coryell combo:
Navy helmet with yellow bolts/masks
Royal CR Jersey
Yellow pants (all they ever need wear anyway)
Royal legwear – will settle for sannies (all the rage these days)
Mis-matching aside…this would be a good option.
love the idea of a mismatch (that would be an accurate throwback). I was never a fan of the yellow pants (that’s a Rams thing, and now that we share a stadium, it’s too much). Even though it dates me, I think the best option is to bring back the royal alternates, and introduce a 90s navy throwback – with navy helmet.
They should have kept the all royal uniforms and ditched the all navy, if for no other reason all navy is almost as overdone as black.
I have to admit those mock-ups look incredible.
So stoked to see there is a skateboarding club in South Central LA. Brilliant! Skateboarding is definitely my favorite athletic art form.
My buddy, Chris Casey (RIP), of The Captain and Casey Show fame, would approve of this.
just need a new pair of yellow pants with navy bolts and the navy/navy/yellow look would be an incredible addition to what’s already the best look in the league
For a team that has managed to get so much wrong over the years, the fact that they haven’t screwed the pooch uniform wise is a small miracle.
I’m more curious about how they can flip the field and stadium from Rams to Chargers in less than 24 hours. It’s not like an indoor arena where they can pick up or lay down a basketball court over ice.
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As a Charger fan, I wish they would scrap the navy blue superhero costume, add a navy helmet and do an honest to God throwback set. I’d prefer the Air Coryell era (which like the Rams/Giants used a navy helmet that was a little darker than the blue in the uniform), but I’d settle for the Seau/LT era navy set.
Of course either option would be considered ‘trolling’ by the San Diego fan base ; )
I have no desire to see a Seau-era throwback…but a Fouts faux? Fo sho!
Why do teams have to ruin a great look. Damn you Chargers.
Every time I watch the Rams or Chargers playing in “their home stadium”, it seems like I’m watching a neutral site game. Sounds like there is absolutely zero atmosphere in that stadium.
Hey, it is LA. Too laidback to care passionately for anything but a career in entertainment. Just kidding. Or am I?
Exactly why royal was phased out by the Chargers I guess: it is a Rams color.
I miss the dark navy Chargers look from the 90s, it was a solid set. I would like the dark helmet, but they should change the lightning bolt and use white pants with a navy lightning bolt pattern and style it after that look.
PLEASE let this happen!!! Their navy blue helmets of the past are so much better than what they have now. If they wore more navy i might be able to stand to look at them. Then just get rid of those insipid numbers on the sides and it would be a great helmet.
I know I’m late, but doesn’t anyone else notice that the Crenshaw Skate Club shirts and sweatshirts all show them very clearly wearing the white helmet with the navy jerseys just like they usually do.
I don’t think this is actually a leak otherwise the merch would show the updated design. Plus the navy one is a display helmet anyway.