When did football players stop using leather helmets?

Answer 1

The earliest footballs used in the US were usually bladders from pigs that were inflated and encased in rubber. In 1876, the Intercollegiate Football Association made changes in the shape and makeup of the football from a round shape encased in rubber to an egg shape encased in leather.

Answer 2

I wore a leather helmet in Jr High School in 1958 but, by around 1960 almost everyone had moved to Wilson or Riddell plastic. Even though the suspension system in the plastic was probably an improvement over the leather helmet, leather seemed to absorb shock better.

Leather helmets made a magical thudding sound in mass line play instead of the clacking sounds that you hear today.

I'll never forget my first experience with a plastic helmet in practice - the crashing sound of plastic to plastic reverberated inside your head and rattled your teeth. The effect was almost as hideous as the clinking sound of aluminum Baseball bats hitting a baseball ball.

And, who could forget that distinctive smell of sweaty leather helmets in the locker room - arriving at practice was almost as fragrant as visiting a cow barn at milking time.

Answer 3

1949 was when the nfl switched to plastic

Answer 4

Around 1950.

Answer 5

450 years ago