Detroit Lions

Billy Sims
(Game Worn)

This early 1980s Billy Sims helmet saw only brief game action prior to being retired early so that it could be given to a special alumni of the Lions organization who played on their 1935 championship team. The helmet type is a Kelly model "MH-100" which was also worn by several other Lion players during the late 1970s to the mid 1980s. Billy Sims was an outstanding high school football player from Hooks, Texas where he struck a friendship with Bill Kelly (owner of Kelly Helmets and former Texas Tech All American) which resulted in Billy choosing to wear mostly a Kelly helmet throughout his outstanding career including the University of Oklahoma and the Lions.