New York Jets

1976 Joe Namath 
(Authentic Reproduction)

"Broadway" Joe quickly found out that handsome young players became players with rugged good looks after a few years of pro football. To protect his face from injury and to preserve his movie star looks he had no problem discarding his conventional Riddell two bar mask for a linesman's style cage mask. After experimenting with various versions of contemporary "clip on" style cage masks Joe settled on a late 1950s bolt on "cowcatcher" style cage made by Schutt Manufacturing. He preferred this vintage style because the acute contour of the sides of the cage frame allowed him the freedom to move his head from side to side without obstruction from his shoulder pads. The pictured Riddell model "TK-2" suspension helmet is an exact reproduction of his final Jet's helmet including the vintage "cowcatcher" style face mask. The Jet's logo reflects the correct 1970s version which is slightly larger and rounded off at the oval ends (rather than notched) compared to the late 1960s version. When Joe went to the Los Angeles Rams at the end of his career he made sure to bring this rare mask with him -- after all his Hollywood career was waiting for him just down the street.