In 1869, Rutgers and Princeton played the first match in that legendary rivalry. Members of the Rutgers team wore scarlet-colored scarves wrapped around their heads to display the school colors. One of the first forms of protective gear were shirts made from heavy jersey material. As a result of Rutgers display, football jerseys were dyed in team colors. By the 1920s, football players were outfitted from head to toe. Football gear has undergone dramatic design changes and safety innovations.
Helmets
The first manufactured helmets were made from cowhide leather. Some had chinstraps. Padding was stitched into pockets on the outside of the helmet. As the game evolved and players became bigger and faster, the need for more durable headgear became evident. In 1939, the Riddell Sports Equipment Company designed the first plastic shell helmet, which transformed football headgear. By the mid-1950s, leather helmets had become obsolete. Plastic helmets of today are engineered to reduce concussions and head injuries by incorporating padding against the temples, jawbones and crown of the head. Chinstraps are mandatory at all levels of football.
Shoes
Football shoes have evolved from heavy leather high-tops with steel cleats to lightweight low-top shoes with molded rubber cleats. Shoe designs remained relatively unchanged until the formation of the Adidas Company at the close of World War II. By the 1950s, the company's designs brought about an influx of low-top shoes. Contemporary football shoes are made from materials that allow maximum flexibility and support.
Pants and Leg Pads
Before the use of synthetic fabrics, football pants were made of cotton and had quilted pads that fit into pockets on the inside. In the 1950s, manufacturers began producing nylon and polyester pants. A hard plastic facing was added to thigh pads, which gave them the distinctive bulge. Hip pads and tailbone pads were incorporated into a girdle that was worn under the pants. Girdles have evolved into more elaborate styles, and some manufacturers offer football pants with built-in pads.
Shoulder Pads
Like all football gear, shoulder pads have undergone numerous design changes. Early shoulder pads had cotton padding covered with thick leather. The pads were relatively compact in terms of design, but provided minimum protection during hard collisions. By the 1970s, wide plastic collarbone plates typified the broad-shoulder designs of that era. Rotator-cuff plates became part of the design, and padding evolved to dense synthetic foam. The huge shoulder pads that all players once used have been phased out in favor of pads adapted for different positions.
Accessories
The most important piece of accessory gear may be the face mask. Players had little choice in terms of face-mask design at first. Masks were not mandatory, and the vertical center bar obstructed the vision of quarterbacks and receivers. Professional football rule changes ultimately mandated the use of face masks, and with that mandate came design innovations. Today, linemen use masks that resemble a cage and extend below the chin for neck protection. Backs and receivers use masks that afford maximum vision. Though mouth guards are mandatory, other pieces of equipment -- gloves, rib protectors and elbow pads among them -- remain optional accessories.
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