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Leatherheads, what exactly is a leatherhead?

Is it a movie starring George Clooney? Well, yes, that is a definition. The leatherheads I’m talking about are actual players who wore the helmets we now refer to as “leatherheads.” We may well thank the very popular movie for coining the phrase ‘leatherheads’ as I couldn’t find historical references to the general public referring to early football players as ‘leatherheads’. However, there are some indications that the helmets themselves were called leather heads.

Leatherheads-The Early Years

The first leather football helmet was worn in an 1893 Army-Navy game. An Annapolis shoe manufacturer developed it for Admiral Joseph Mason Reeves, who had been warned by a Navy doctor that he would be in danger of dying. , go insane or paralyzed if he was hit in the head again during a game. Later helmets improved the design with padding, ear muffs, and eventually face shields.

Padded but without helmets

Players often had their own method of body padding as their motto and crude shoulder and hip pads were used during the early years of football, particularly in the early 20th century. Helmets were rare to see on players, and often some players wore them while others did not. In the 1920s, leather helmets became more accepted, but were not yet required.

Logo

The earliest helmets had no identification markings at all. As with all games, fierce competition and team pride resulted in some colleges and high schools hand-painting their helmets. Certain team colors or mascots were eventually painted over to easily distinguish team players. Imagine being a quarterback trying to find the receiver on the field with no ID marks on the receiver! Imagine it’s a mud game! How difficult it must have been, especially if the receiver was well covered! Today’s players can thank the Rams for starting to paint the team’s logo on their helmets. In 1948, the Rams’ horns were painted on team helmets, and soon after, all football helmets carried the team logo or colors.

true grain

While we can’t imagine playing a game of football without protective gear, the “leatherhead” era shows the true value of those early players. They took a beating week after week and often went to their regular jobs during the week. His sheer determination and love of the game has given us the football we know today and fortunately our players are much more protected.

Leather helmets today

If you can find a leather helmet from that golden age, you’re in luck! Finding one that doesn’t break the bank would be an even bigger achievement. Finding images of ‘leatherheads’ can also be difficult. International sports artist Andy Goralski has just completed an artwork titled “From Leather to Legendary” that portrays the Acme Packers team wearing the infamous leather head helmets. In the back is the legendary Lambeau Field in Green Bay showing off its newly renovated look. This fine art work is available in fine art prints and also available on canvas. For more information and to see this legendary sporting work of art complete with a team of ‘leather heads’, visit coleengoralski.com

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